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Physical modalities in rheumatological rehabilitation
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612-3833.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
|September 1, 1994
Summary
Physical modalities like diathermy and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) show promise for arthritis pain relief. Further research is needed as publications on these physical treatments for arthritis are decreasing.
Area of Science:
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Physical Therapy
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Physical modalities are integral to arthritis rehabilitation.
- A review of literature from 1956-1992 was conducted to assess their use.
- Recent publication frequency on physical modalities for arthritis treatment has declined.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the scientific literature on physical modalities used in arthritis rehabilitation.
- To identify physical modalities with potential for further clinical trials.
Main Methods:
- Searched Medline (1980-1992) and Rehabdata (1956-1992) databases.
- Keywords included 'arthritis' and specific physical modalities (diathermy, massage, TENS, hydrotherapy, counter-irritants, topical ointments, compression gloves, superficial heat, acupuncture).
Main Results:
- Scientific publications on physical modalities for arthritis treatment have recently decreased.
- Ablative diathermy may benefit persistently inflamed joints.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and capsaicin show potential for osteoarthritis pain relief with consistent application.
Conclusions:
- Further trials of ablative diathermy for inflammatory arthritis are warranted.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and capsaicin offer potential pain management strategies for osteoarthritis.
- The declining publication trend suggests a need for renewed research focus on physical modalities in arthritis care.