Can Electrical Stimulation Be Used Safely When Exercise Is Difficult for People With Rheumatoid Arthritis?? A Japanese University Case Study Involving Rheumatoid Arthritis

person Savannah Martin
calendar_today Jan 19, 2026
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Welcome to ORIEMS FIT RESEARCH DIGEST.

In this series, we share real scientific research in very simple language, so everyday people can understand it.

We do not give medical advice.
We share research to spark curiosity and learning.

At the end of every post, you will always find a link to the original study.
If you enjoy collecting full research papers or PDFs, you can explore them directly.

Why This Research Matters If You Have Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you live with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you may already know this struggle:

You want to stay strong
You want to walk better
You want to avoid muscle weakness

But you may also worry:

Will exercise damage my joints?
Will strength training cause a flare?
Is it safer to rest instead of move?

This research looked at a gentle way to activate muscles without moving or loading painful joints.

Who Did This Research and When?

Published: July 2025
Country: Japan
Institution: Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
Journal: Cureus (peer-reviewed, open access)

This university is a long-established medical school in Japan, known for rehabilitation and clinical research.

Who Was Studied?

This was a case study, meaning one person was closely followed.

The participant was:

A 73-year-old woman
Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis
RA activity was low and stable
She also had low muscle mass and slow walking speed

Because of joint concerns, she could not safely perform traditional resistance training.

What Was Tested?

The researchers tested electrical muscle stimulation (EMS).

Key details:

EMS used soft belt electrodes
Covered large leg muscles
Done while sitting or lying down
No joint movement
Designed to be low pain

The EMS sessions were:

20 minutes each
1–2 times per week
Continued for 6 months

She also drank a daily protein supplement to support muscle maintenance.

What Did the Researchers Measure?

Because the participant had RA, the researchers carefully monitored:

Muscle mass
Muscle strength
Walking speed
Joint symptoms
Pain or discomfort
Arthritis disease activity

Her RA medication did not change during the study.

What Were the Positive Findings?

Only positive and relevant findings are listed below.

Muscle Strength and Mass

After 6 months:

Muscle mass increased by 3.8%
Leg strength increased by 11.3%

Walking Ability

Walking speed doubled
From 0.5 m/s to 1.0 m/s
This is a 100% improvement

Joint Safety

No joint flare-ups were reported
Arthritis activity did not worsen
No joint-related adverse events occurred

Comfort

EMS discomfort was rated very low
Sessions were well tolerated
The program was completed consistently

After 6 months, the participant no longer met diagnostic criteria for muscle loss.

Why This Is Important for People With RA

Rheumatoid arthritis can make exercise feel risky.

This study shows that, in this case:

Muscles were activated without stressing joints
Strength improved without painful movement
EMS was comfortable and safe over time

This does not mean EMS treats RA.
It shows that joint-friendly muscle activation is possible.

What This Study Does NOT Say:

To stay honest and clear:

❌ It does NOT cure rheumatoid arthritis
❌ It does NOT replace medication
❌ It does NOT reverse joint damage

This study simply observed that muscle engagement was possible without worsening RA in one individual.

Study Information

Original Research Paper Name:
Therapeutic Electrical Stimulation Using Belt Electrodes and Nutritional Management in a Patient With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Sarcopenia: A Case Report

Simplified Name:
Can Gentle EMS Help People With Rheumatoid Arthritis Stay Strong Without Joint Stress?

Link to Original Study:
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.88125

This study is published in Cureus, a peer-reviewed medical journal that provides free public access to full articles and PDFs.

About Oriems Fit

At Oriems Fit, a 100% Australian award-winning brand, we believe people with limited mobility still deserve knowledge, dignity, and options.

Learning about your body should never stop — even when joints make life harder.

Summary Table

Question	What This Study Observed
Was RA involved?	Yes
Joint movement required?	No
Joint flare-ups?	None reported
Muscle strength change	+11.3%
Walking speed change	+100%
Pain during EMS	Very low