Muscle function in rheumatoid arthritis. Assessment and training

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) commonly affect large lower extremity joints, leading to muscle function problems in approximately 80% of patients.
• Muscle strength, endurance, and balance are crucial for daily activities, and their impairment significantly impacts patients' quality of life.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate muscle function problems in RA and OA patients.
• To assess the reliability and validity of the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and a computerized force platform for evaluating balance.
• To compare the effectiveness of dynamic versus static training programs for improving physical capacity in RA patients.

Main Methods:

• Patient-reported outcomes on muscle function, functional tests for strength, endurance, and balance.
• Validated questionnaires (HAQ) and a computerized force platform for balance assessment.
• Randomized controlled trial comparing dynamic and static training programs in RA patients.

Main Results:

• RA and OA patients reported similar problems with muscle strength, endurance, and balance.
• Muscle function problems correlated with muscle strength tests and lower extremity activities of daily living (LE-ADL).
• Dynamic training led to greater improvements in physical capacity for RA patients compared to static training, with sustained benefits.

Conclusions:

• Muscle function impairment is prevalent in RA and OA patients with lower extremity involvement.
• Dynamic training is an effective and safe intervention for improving physical capacity in RA patients.
• Validated tools like the HAQ and force platform are reliable for assessing disability and balance in these patient populations.