High intensity workouts such as group cycling could hold the key to minimising the effects of arthritis, according to findings from a pilot study.

Arthritis affects roughly one per cent of the population, and about three times as many women as men. The condition can destroy joints, causing weakness and loss of movement. Patients with arthritis also often have reduced endurance, and are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Exercise was once thought to have exacerbated arthritis symptoms, but previous studies have since shown that moderate exercise can help to combat the condition, while improving overall health. Another study found that exercise can also be beneficial for children suffering from juvenile arthritis, a condition which affects about one child in every 1,000.

Now, researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) have produced findings in the European Journal of Applied Physiology that suggest high-intensity sessions could be the best form of workout for arthritis sufferers.

"We wanted to see if patients with arthritis could handle high intensity training and see the same positive effects," said Anja Bye, a researcher at the K. G. Jebsen Centre for Exercise in Medicine – Cardiac Exercise Research Group (CERG) at NTNU.

“We saw a tendency for there to be less inflammation, at least as measured by the inflammation marker CRP, and the participants of the study experienced a solid increase in maximum oxygen intake, meaning that they reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease."

The study group comprised 18 women with arthritis between the ages of 20-49. Participants warmed up for 10 minutes at 70 per cent of their maximum heart rate, and then did four repetitions of high intensity (85-95 per cent of max heart rate) four-minute intervals. The break between each interval was about three minutes, at 70 per cent of max pulse. The total workout session lasted about 35 minutes.

After 10 weeks of training, participants saw a small reduction in BMI, body fat percentage and waist measurement, plus an increase in muscle mass, as well as less inflammation.

The study's small size means it is too early to conclude if recommended training programmes for arthritis patients should be changed, but initial findings suggest it might be a good idea. The Department of Rheumatology at St. Olavs Hospital is now working on a study of high intensity training for different patient groups with CERG.