Authors
MR KHATIBI, F SHAHRAM, NS TAGHAVI
Publication date
2001/1/1
Volume
5
Issue
4
Pages
12-17
Publisher
SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL OF KURDISTAN UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES
Description
INTRODUCTION
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease with unknown ethiology, characterized by symmetric joint involvement with progressive deformifies. This leads to limitation of motion and reduction of daily activities. This study was aimed to demonstrate the effects of EXERCISE THERAPY on mobility of joints in the patients with RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS.
MATERIALS & METHODS
This was a quasiexperimental study. Forthy patients with RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS were selected. They were studied for 12 weeks. In all subjects, RANGE OF MOTION. of the joints, force of grasping, and the time of walking for 15 meters were measured at the beginning of the study, before exercise (6 weeks after coming), and 6 weeks following the exercise. The results were evaluated by paired t-test and one-way ANOVA test. The data was collected by questionnaire and using a goniometer.
RESULTS
The data revealed that mean RANGE OF MOTION. in the subjects changed significantly from 0.278 (SD= 0.028) to 8 (SD= 3.57) following the exercise (P< 0.0001). The mean time of walking for 15 meteres decreased following exercise (P< 0.0001). The force of grasping increased from 7 (SD= 0.29) to 8.5 (SD= 3.1) following exercise (P< 0.0002). The effects of EXERCISE THERAPY were not influenced by sex, job, motion limitation in the ankles, type of onset and duration of the disease, age and the patients level of education.
CONCLUSION
This study confirms effectiveness of EXERCISE THERAPY on improving mobility of the joints in patients with RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS during the remission phase