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Effect of 8-Week Aerobic Walking Program on Sexual Function in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors Rezaei S, Mohammadhossini S, Karimi Z, Yazdanpanah P, Zarei Nezhad M, Ghafarian Shirazi HR
Received 5 March 2020
Accepted for publication 30 April 2020
Published 13 May 2020 Volume 2020:13 Pages 169—176
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/IJGM.S252591
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 2
Editor who approved publication: Dr Scott Fraser
Sara Rezaei,1 Sima Mohammadhossini,1 Zohreh Karimi,2 Parviz Yazdanpanah,3 Maryam Zarei Nezhad,4 Hamid Reza Ghafarian Shirazi5
1Department of Nursing, School of Nursing, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; 2Department of Operating Room, School of Paramedicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; 3Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; 4Rheumatology, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran; 5Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
Correspondence: Zohreh Karimi
Department of Operating Room, School of Paramedicine, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Dr Jalil Street, Yasuj, Iran
Tel/Fax +987433235138
Email zohreh.karimi@yums.ac.ir
Introduction: Sexual dysfunction is a little-addressed condition in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Aerobic exercises, including walking, can help alleviate this dysfunction. This study aimed to determine the effect of an 8-week aerobic walking program on sexual function ine patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Methodology: This clinical trial was conducted on 51 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. At first, patients were selected through nonprobability sampling. They were then allocated into intervention and control groups using block randomization. The walking intervention was performed based on the frequency–intensity–time–type principle forg 8 consecutive weeks. Rosen’s Female Sexual Function Index was used for data collection before, immediately after, and 4 weeks after the intervention. Data collected were analyzed with SPSS 22 using descriptive and inferential statistics and 95% CI.
Findings: Mean sexual function scores before, after, and 4 weeks after intervention were 17.66± 4, 22.88± 4.7, and 24.39± 5.1 in the intervention group and 17.60± 4.24, 17.27± 4.66, and 17.39± 4.39 in the control group, respectively. Test results showed a significant intergroup difference in mean sexual function score (p< 0.05).
Conclusion: Based on our results, an 8-week aerobic walking program is recommended as an effective way to improve sexual function in women with rheumatoid arthritis.
Keywords: walking, sexual function of women, rheumatoid arthritis
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