Lay summary
Gout is a common form of inflammatory arthritis in Aotearoa, characterised by unpredictable flares of intense pain. Excess physical activity is among the most common triggers for gout flares, and many people with gout avoid exercise for fear of triggering a flare. This greatly juxtaposes current gout management guidelines which recommend “regular exercise” to prevent and manage comorbidities without providing specific advice about exercise frequency and intensity. The overall aim of this mixed-methods study is to investigate the relationship between physical activity and gout flares. This will be achieved through the exploration of patients’ perceptions and experiences of physical activity in the context of gout and gout flares, and through the objective assessment of the relationship between physical activity and gout flares over time. The findings will eventuate in the development of meaningful patient educational resources and gout-specific physical activity programmes that facilitate safe and beneficial engagement in physical activity.