A six-week hand exercise programme improves strength and hand function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Physical Therapy
• Musculoskeletal Health

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) commonly affects hand function, impacting daily activities.
• Hand exercises are proposed as a non-pharmacological intervention for RA management.
• Limited comparative data exists on hand exercise effects in RA patients versus healthy individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of a hand exercise program in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
• To compare the outcomes of hand exercise in RA patients against those in healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• A 6- and 12-week hand exercise program was conducted with 20 RA patients and 20 healthy controls.
• Evaluations included hand force (extension/flexion), hand function (Grip Ability Test), and patient-reported outcomes (DASH, SF-36).
• Ultrasound assessed changes in the extensor digitorum communis muscle cross-sectional area.

Main Results:

• Both RA patients and controls showed significant improvements in hand extension and flexion force after 6 weeks (p < 0.01).
• Hand function (GAT) improved significantly in both groups (p < 0.01).
• RA patients reported improved outcomes on the DASH questionnaire (p < 0.05), and muscle size increased in both groups.

Conclusions:

• Hand exercise is an effective intervention for rheumatoid arthritis, enhancing hand strength and function.
• Improvements in RA patients were evident after 6 weeks and more pronounced by 12 weeks.
• The study supports hand exercise as a valuable component of RA management.