Arthritis and the process of disablement

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology
• Physical Therapy
• Musculoskeletal Health

Background:

• Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis significantly affect the musculoskeletal system.
• Existing research details disablement in arthritis, linking disease, impairments, and functional limitations.
• A gap exists in physical therapy literature concerning arthritis, musculoskeletal impairment, and physical function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the gap in physical therapy literature.
• To explore the relationship between arthritis, musculoskeletal impairment, and physical function.
• To identify effective interventions for improving function in arthritis patients.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on physical therapy research.
• Analysis of studies examining musculoskeletal impairment and functional limitations in arthritis.
• Synthesis of current evidence on remediation strategies.

Main Results:

• The relationship between arthritis, musculoskeletal impairment, and physical function is not well-defined in physical therapy literature.
• Effective methods for remediating musculoskeletal impairment and enhancing physical function in arthritis remain a challenge.
• Further research is needed to bridge this gap.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need for more research in physical therapy to understand and address the impact of arthritis on physical function.
• Developing targeted interventions is essential for clinicians and researchers to improve the quality of life for individuals with arthritis.
• Bridging the identified literature gap will advance the field of physical therapy for musculoskeletal conditions.