Association between dynamic exercise therapy and IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations in the patients with rheumatoid arthritis

We aimed to evaluate the relationship between short-term dynamic exercise therapy and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Forty RA patients were assigned into dynamic or range of motion (ROM) exercise groups. Also control group carried out the same dynamic exercise protocol. Morning stiffness, pain (VAS), Health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) and Ritchie articular index (RAI) were evaluated and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum C-reactive protein, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels of the participants were recorded. The assessments were determined before, at the 7th and 15th days of treatment. VAS and RAI scores were significantly improved by the dynamic exercises in RA patients. There were increases on IGF-1 in dynamic exercise group, although IGF-1 levels showed a decrease in ROM exercise and control groups. Also no significant changes were observed on IGFBP-3 in three groups. Our results suggest that short-term dynamic exercise therapy increases serum IGF-1 in RA patients. The manipulation of serum IGF-1 levels by dynamic exercise therapy may indicate the beneficial effects of dynamic exercise in RA patients.