Turkish Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2008 , Vol 54 , Num 1

Rheumatoid Hand and Rehabilitatio

Banu KURAN 1 ,Beril Doğu 2 ,Raikan Soydemir 3
1 Clinic of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Şişli Etfal Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey
2 İstanbul Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, Fizik Tedavi Kliniği, İstanbul, Türkiye
3 Şişli Etfal Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Fizik Tedavi ve Rehabilitasyon Kliniği, İstanbul

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic disease characterized by synovial inflammation. It affects wrists, metacarpophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints symmetrically and bilaterally. Caput ulnae syndrome, radial deviation of wrists, zigzag deformity, ulnar deviation of metacarpophalangeal joints, Boutonniére and swan-neck deformities, tendon ruptures are common disorders. When joints and soft tissue structures are compromised, the disease affects the architecture and balance of hand, leads to loss of function, causes pain and weakness. The goals of therapy are to reduce inflammation and pain, facilitate proper joint alignment and decrease trauma. In addition to medical treatment reduction in pain, increase in functions and daily living activities are achieved via conservative treatment consisting of physical therapy, excercise, splint usage and occupational therapy 

Keywords : Rheumatoid arthritis, hand, conservative treatment