Self-Monitoring and Self-Management of Arthritis with E-rehabilitation

Dear Colleagues,

Regular physical activities reduce pain, increase energy, enhance sleep, and improve daily function in people with arthritis. It is, therefore, recommended by several international guidelines as one of the primary managements for different types of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), and osteoarthritis (OA). Physical activity can also assist patients with arthritis to manage other chronic disorders, such as diabetes, heart disease, and obesity, and delay the onset of arthritis-related disability. However, more than half of people with arthritis struggle to maintain a recommended level of daily physical activity, with a lack of awareness to keep their symptoms in check and set goals for lifestyle management. Self-management is essential to the effective management of chronic diseases, including different types of arthritis. When their self-care is supported and encouraged, they will perform better. Keeping a record of their exercise and daily activity (e.g., exercise pace/intensity/type/frequency; activities aspects/attributes) can be helpful to stay motivated and keep moving during symptoms flare up. Therefore, it is necessary to promote self-management and adherence to recommended treatments, especially exercise, through multifaced approaches.

This Special Issue focuses on those with a practical focus on techniques that help people with different types of arthritis stay active and monitor how their symptoms and physical activity levels change over time, as well as exercise-focused rehabilitation programs delivered via the internet to promote their independent active daily life. New research papers (including randomized controlled trials, mixed-methods studies, and knowledge translation and implementation research), reviews, and case reports are welcome to this Issue.

Prof. Dr. Guoxin Ni
Guest Editor

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• e-rehabilitation
• self-monitoring
• self-management
• arthritis
• exercise
• physical activity