Is dry heat treatment (fluidotherapy) effective in improving hand function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis? A...

To evaluate the efficacy of dry heat treatment (fluidotherapy) in improving hand function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Prospective randomized controlled trial.

Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Rheumatology in a university hospital.

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

All patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 underwent dry heat treatment (fluidotherapy) and Group 2 was a control group. Patients in both groups participated in a joint protection and exercise program.

Primary outcome measures were Health Assessment Questionnaire and Duruoz Hand Index. Secondary outcome measures were pain and stiffness, Grip Ability Test, Disease Activity Score-28, and grip strength. These assessments were performed at the hospital at baseline, week 3, and week 12.

A total of 93 participants were allocated to Group 1 ( n = 47) and Group 2 ( n = 46). The mean age of these groups was 54.19 ± 11.15 years and 53.00 ± 10.15 years, respectively ( P = 0.592). At baseline, there were no significant differences between the groups in any parameter except significantly poorer Health Assessment Questionnaire score in Group 1 ( P = 0.007). At week 3, there were no significant differences between the groups in any of the parameters ( P > 0.005). At week 12, Duruoz Hand Index scores were significantly better in Group 2 ( P = 0.039).

Dry heat treatment (fluidotherapy) was not effective in improving hand function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Moreover, no positive effect on any other clinical parameters was observed.