Therapeutic Exercise in Patients With Hemophilia

Therapeutic Exercise: Does it Improve Pain Perception, Range of Movement and Quality of Life in Patients With Hemophilia

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of performing a therapeutic exercise program, compared with usual care, on pain relief, range of movement and self-perceived quality of life in patients with hemophilia

Design: Quantitative, experimental, longitudinal and prospective study.

Subjects: Male patients between 30 and 45 years old, with hemophilia type A or B and with knee, ankle or elbow arthropathy caused by hemophilia. Participants may be undergoing a pharmacologic treatment with intravenous VIII and/or IX factor

Methods: Participants in the experimental group will an intervention based on therapeutic exercise. One therapist will instruct the patients during two sessions (each lasting approximately 1 hour). Participants will be asked to continue this program at least twice a week. Meanwhile, those in the control group will receive usual physical therapy care, based on a more passive approach, including self-assisted joint mobilization and muscle stretching. Those in the control group will be also instructed to perform the protocol at home, at least twice a week. The intervention protocol in both groups will last three months

Inclusion Criteria:

• Clinical diagnosis of hemophilia type A or hemophilia type B.
• Knee, elbow or ankle arthropathy caused by hemophilia
• Pharmacological treatment based on using VIII or IX factor concentrates.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of VIII FIX inhibitors.
• Having received anti-inflammatory treatment using Arcoxia (Etoricoxib)
• Having undergone a surgical intervention at the target joint.
• Patients enrolled in other research which implies doing physical exercise.