A treatment method of rheumatic diseases; exercise

Stating that one of the potential treatments for rheumatic patients is exercise, Physiotherapist Çağıl Ertürk said, "Instead of thinking that exercise increases inflammation, physical activity is now advocated as an anti-inflammatory treatment for patients with rheumatic diseases."

Emphasizing that persistent systemic inflammation, which is a typical feature of rheumatic diseases, is associated with high cardiovascular risk and predisposes to metabolic disorders and muscle loss, Physiotherapist Çağıl Ertürk said, “These disorders can create a vicious cycle of chronic inflammation by leading to decreased physical activity, exacerbation of inflammation and the development of a network of chronic diseases.”

MAY INCREASE THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHRONIC DISEASES

Ertürk continued his speech as follows:

“Persistent systemic inflammation is a typical feature of inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Chronic inflammation predisposes to a network of chronic diseases such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, accelerated vascular occlusion problems and thus type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and dementia. Disease-specific symptoms may adversely affect the mobility, physical activity and physical capacity of patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease. Physical inactivity can cause fat accumulation in the internal organs and further increase the development of chronic diseases in this 'vicious circle' of chronic inflammation.”

“MYOKINE PROTEIN RELEASES DURING EXERCISE”

Stating that skeletal muscle communicates with other organs by secreting proteins called myokines during exercise, Physiotherapist Cagil Erturk from Istanbul Gelisim University Faculty of Health Sciences said, "Some myokines create anti-inflammatory responses in each exercise session and mediate the improvements in cardiovascular risk factors with long-term exercise and indirectly. It is thought to have an anti-inflammatory effect. “Therefore, contrary to fears that physical activity may exacerbate inflammatory pathways, exercise is a potential treatment for patients with rheumatic diseases.”