Data on activities of daily living in patients with rheumatoid arthritis are assessed mainly be the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). The HAQ generates data by subjective variables. It would be desirable and advantageous to add objective tools reflecting patients' activities to the outcome parameters in rheumatoid arthritis. The StepWatch™ activity monitor (SAM) in an ankle worn step counter and an accurate instrument to measure real world ambulatory activity. The investigators purpose was to investigate whether activities of daily living measured by SAM increase during a therapy with the TNF-alpha inhibitor etanercept in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).