Hand exercises help restore function in rheumatoid arthritis

A tailored hand exercise programme for people with rheumatoid arthritis is a cost-effective intervention for restoring hand function, says new research published in The Lancet.
Nearly 500 people with rheumatoid arthritis who had hand pain and/or dysfunction were split into groups. Half took part in a hand exercise programme that involved strengthening and stretching hand exercises at a hospital and at home, as shown by physiotherapists or occupational therapists. The other half had usual care.
After one year, the exercise group’s improvement was more than double that of the usual care group. The cost of tailored hand exercise was £156 per person.
“We have shown that a tailored hand exercise programme is a worthwhile, low-cost intervention to provide as an adjunct to various drug regimens,” explains Dr Sarah Lamb who led the work. “Maximisation of the benefits of biological and DMARD regimens in terms of function, disability, and health-related quality of life should be an important treatment aim.”

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Click here to read the original research.

Image credit: John Genius