[Physical therapy in rheumatic diseases]

Physicotherapy is of rather high importance for many rheumatic diseases. Cold as well as warm applications will be positively effecting alleviation of distress and pain if close observation of the various stages is guaranteed. Indications for the different electrotherapeutic proceedings, however, have to some extent not been put up yet. Medical gymnastics is so far representing the only causally active therapy. The present study is demonstrating physicotherapeutic methods in relation to stages of rheumatic disease, as for instance in rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, during some forms of non-articular rheumatism and--only fleetingly--arthrosis.