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Exercise can reverse quadriceps sensorimotor dysfunction that is associated with rheumatoid arthritis without
L M Bearne1, D L Scott, M V Hurley
1Physiotherapy Division, School of Biomedical Sciences, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
Rheumatology (Oxford, England)
|March 12, 2002
Summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with lower limb involvement exhibit quadriceps sensorimotor deficits and functional disability. A brief rehabilitation program effectively improved quadriceps function and reduced disability without worsening disease activity in RA patients.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation
- Clinical Biomechanics
Background:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) frequently impacts lower limb function, leading to quadriceps sensorimotor deficits and disability.
- Understanding these deficits is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare sensorimotor function, functional performance, and disability in RA patients versus healthy individuals.
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a brief rehabilitation regimen in RA patients with lower limb involvement.
Main Methods:
- Compared quadriceps strength, voluntary activation, proprioceptive acuity, and aggregate functional performance time (AFPT) between 103 RA patients and 25 healthy subjects.
- Assessed disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire), disease activity, and inflammatory cytokines in RA patients.
- Conducted a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of rehabilitation on 93 RA patients, analyzing changes in these variables.
Main Results:
- RA patients demonstrated significantly weaker quadriceps, poorer activation, reduced proprioceptive acuity, and longer AFPT compared to controls.
- Rehabilitation led to significant improvements in quadriceps strength, voluntary activation, AFPT, and reduced subjective disability.
- These improvements were sustained at 6-month follow-up, with no exacerbation of disease activity.
Conclusions:
- Quadriceps sensorimotor deficits are linked to lower limb disability in RA patients.
- A clinically applicable rehabilitation regime effectively enhances sensorimotor function and reduces disability in RA patients with lower limb involvement.
- The described rehabilitation approach is safe and effective for patients with well-controlled RA affecting the lower limbs.