Exercise and talking therapy could help thousands of patients with rheumatoid arthritis combat crippling fatigue, a study suggests.

Researchers found that those who had talking therapy or exercise therapy for arthritis significantly reduced fatigue levels against those receiving usual care.

Participants were either given telephone-delivered physical activity programmes, cognitive behavioural therapy or they received usual care.

Those in the exercise group had five 45-minute, one-to-one sessions over 30 weeks while those who had talking therapy received an average of eight sessions over the same period.

The usual care group were given an education booklet on fatigue.

Researchers found that those who had talking therapy or exercise therapy significantly reduced fatigue levels against those receiving usual care.

And those offered these interventions reported improved sleep, mental health and quality of life, compared with those who received usual care.

Those who had talking or exercise therapy significantly reduced fatigue levels against those receiving usual care, universities of Aberdeen and Glasgow said.

Those with family history of rheumatoid arthritis are also more vulnerable