Hand Exercises for Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Impaired ADL Ability: an Exploratory Trial

Hand Exercises for Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Impaired ADL Ability: an Exploratory Randomized Controlled Trial

The study examines whether hand exercise therapy as an add on to a compensatory intervention program focused on joint protection, assistive devices and alternative methods of doing will improve the performance of ADL tasks requiring hand function in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female sex.
• Age ≥ 18.
• Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (2).
• Involvement of the hands, due to minimum one tender wrist, metacarpophalangeal (MCP) or proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint in one of the hands.
• Be on stable medication for at least 3 months prior to participation.
• Self-reported decreased ability to perform personal and instrumental ADL tasks involving the hands.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Significant osteoarthritis of the hand assessed at the initial examination by the rheumatologist
• Hand surgery within 6 months of study participation
• Other pain condition involving muscles and/or joints, e.g. fibromyalgia.
• Prednisolon therapy, change in dose of biological agent or start of treatment with a new biological agent within the last 3 month before study start.
• Inability to understand the information or to speak Danish
• Any other condition that in the opinion of the investigator or accessing rheumatologist puts an otherwise eligible participant at increased risk by participation or otherwise make the person unfit for participation.