Running with rheumatoid arthritis: A qualitative study of Australian rheumatologists’ perceptions and recommendations

Objective: To explore how Australian rheumatologists perceive and
recommend running for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, including
their clinical experiences, observations and personal views. Design:
Qualitative exploratory study using semi-structured interviews. Interviews
were conducted via Microsoft Teams, transcribed verbatim and analysed
thematically using NVivo software. Setting: Australia; interviews were
conducted remotely via Microsoft Teams with participants joining from
either clinical or home environments. Participants: Thirteen practicing
Australian rheumatologists recruited through purposive and snowball
sampling. Results: Five themes were identified from thematic analysis: (1)
Perceived benefits of running, (2) Risks and clinical cautions, (3)
Criteria required for discussing running, (4) Barriers to running and (4)
Facilitators to running. Participants acknowledged various benefits of
running for individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, such as improved mental
health, lifestyle changes, and support for joint health. Concerns included
risks of running during active disease phases and overly rapid progression
of training loads.. Key criteria for recommending running included good
disease control, the patient’s running history and personal goals.
Barriers included patient concerns around joint harm, lack of guidelines,
and socioeconomic challenges. Facilitators included stable disease,
symptom guided pacing, gradual load increases, allied health referral and
appropriate footwear. Conclusion: Rheumatologists acknowledged both the
potential benefits and risks of running for people with rheumatoid
arthritis. Individualised recommendations based on disease status and
patient preferences could enhance the integration of running into care
plans. Further research is needed to develop specific guidelines and
understand patient outcomes.