Assistive devices often useful even in early RA

[Guest guest]

Assistive devices often useful even in early RA

Jul 26, 2004 Janis

Linköping, Sweden - A 2-year follow-up of patients with recent-onset

rheumatoid arthritis (RA) found that most had fairly stable activity

limitations over that period and that many benefited significantly from the

use of assistive devices (AD), such as long-handed or angle-handed cutlery

and opening devices for jars and cans [1].

" Just 1 year after RA diagnosis, patients report activity limitations in

many daily activities. The extent of activity limitations seems to be stable

between 12 and 24 months after diagnosis, " Dr Ingred Thyberg (University

Hospital of Linköping, Sweden) reports in the June 15, 2004 issue of

Arthritis & Rheumatism. " The use of assistive devices was related to more

severe disease and more pronounced impairment, indicating a need for early

AD intervention. ADs significantly improved performance of daily activities

in both women and men. "

Activity limitations appear early but remain stable over first 2 years

The main goals of this study were to measure activity limitation in women

and men with early RA, to measure the effect of ADs, and to identify

indicators of a need for early AD intervention. The patients were 196 women

and 88 men with RA onset within 1 year before entry into an ongoing,

multicenter, early-arthritis study who remained in the study for 24 months.

Activity limitation was measured by the self-administered disease-specific

Swedish Evaluation of Daily Activity Questionnaire (EDAQ), which includes

102 possible activities. Activities where more than 5% of patients reported

the use of ADs were analyzed further for the efficacy of ADs. Disease

activity was measured by erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), physicians'

global assessment of disease activity (PGA), and Disease Activity Score in

28 joints (DAS28). Grip force, pain and fatigue on visual analog scales, and

disability measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) were also

assessed.

Apart from pain (in women patients), none of the variables representing the

disease course changed between the 12- and 24-month visits. Women had higher

HAQ scores than men at both visits and a higher DAS28 score at the 24-month

visit. There were no differences between men and women in use of

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, oral corticosteroids, or

disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

Devices help most patients maintain function

Most patients reported no major difficulties with daily activities even at 2

years after RA diagnosis. Of the women, 69% at 12 months and 72% at 24

months reported performing all the measured activities without difficulty,

as did 82% and 83% of men, respectively. At the 24-month visit, difficulty

had decreased in women for 6 activities, had decreased in men for 2

activities, and had increased for men in 1 activity.

Assistive devices contributed greatly to this result. One hundred twenty

four of the 196 women and 30 of 56 men used an average of 6 ADs. As might be

expected, these were mainly patients with more severe disease and more

pronounced disability, especially grip force. Women and men both reported

greatest problems with activities involved in eating and drinking,

especially opening jars and bottles.

These results indicate a need for specific assessment and intervention

with regard to ADs early after the diagnosis of RA in both women and men.

Thyberg found that ADs were especially helpful in activities of eating and

drinking. " Seventy-eight percent of women and 54% of men reported using ADs.

These results indicate a need for specific assessment and intervention with

regard to ADs early after the diagnosis of RA in both women and men, " she

writes.

Thyberg points out that the costs associated with use of ADs are minimal: an

average of $8 per device. " The rationale for using ADs may sometimes be pain

relief or other preventive purposes and may in many instances be

prerequisites to performing an activity, " she says.

Assistive devices that significantly improved eating and drinking activity

limitations in early RA

Activity limitation Assistive device

Using knife, fork Large-handled grips, angled handle

Cutting bread Bread knife with angled handle

Slicing cheese Angled cheese slicer, wrist orthoses

Opening milk carton Springy scissors and tongs

Opening bottle Prolonged opener

Opening glass jar Prolonged opener, antislip pad

Opening juice bottle Springy tongs, antislip pad, vacuum opener

Opening can Jar opener, electric can opener, antislip pad

[Guest guest]

what limitations have the people here had?

I had to give up my stick shift car, I could not do the clutch.

I could not carry a gallon jug of milk, nor cases or even 2 liter bottles o=

f pop. For awhile I could not drink from a glass without a straw cuz I coul=

d not hold my wrist to tip the glass to my mouth, and for ahwhile I could no=

t even hold a glass, nor carry a plate.

Brushing my hair was most impossible for quite awhile, my wrist could not t=

olerate it at all..

I was in nursing school and my medical textbooks were too heavy for me to l=

ift at all, and I could not rip tape, manuver IVs etc....or open blister pac=

ks of pills. For a short time I could not even write a check to pay the mon=

thly bills and taught my then 11 year old how to do so. My fingers and toes=

and wrists and ankles refused to allow me to wear socks or anything other t=

han slide in shoes---

Gosh I am SO glad to not be THAT actively ill anymore!!!!

I did not know of so many assistive devices....

- In , a54 <a54@s...> wrote:

> Assistive devices often useful even in early RA

>

> Jul 26, 2004 Janis

>

> Linköping, Sweden - A 2-year follow-up of patients with recent-onset

> rheumatoid arthritis (RA) found that most had fairly stable activity

> limitations over that period and that many benefited significantly from t=

he

> use of assistive devices (AD), such as long-handed or angle-handed cutler=

y

> and opening devices for jars and cans [1].

>

> " Just 1 year after RA diagnosis, patients report activity limitations in

> many daily activities. The extent of activity limitations seems to be sta=

ble

> between 12 and 24 months after diagnosis, " Dr Ingred Thyberg (University

> Hospital of Linköping, Sweden) reports in the June 15, 2004 issue of

> Arthritis & Rheumatism. " The use of assistive devices was related to more=

> severe disease and more pronounced impairment, indicating a need for earl=

y

> AD intervention. ADs significantly improved performance of daily activiti=

es

> in both women and men. "

> Activity limitations appear early but remain stable over first 2 years

>

> The main goals of this study were to measure activity limitation in women=

> and men with early RA, to measure the effect of ADs, and to identify

> indicators of a need for early AD intervention. The patients were 196 wom=

en

> and 88 men with RA onset within 1 year before entry into an ongoing,

> multicenter, early-arthritis study who remained in the study for 24 month=

s.

>

> Activity limitation was measured by the self-administered disease-specifi=

c

> Swedish Evaluation of Daily Activity Questionnaire (EDAQ), which includes=

> 102 possible activities. Activities where more than 5% of patients report=

ed

> the use of ADs were analyzed further for the efficacy of ADs. Disease

> activity was measured by erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), physicians=

'

> global assessment of disease activity (PGA), and Disease Activity Score i=

n

> 28 joints (DAS28). Grip force, pain and fatigue on visual analog scales, =

and

> disability measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) were als=

o

> assessed.

>

> Apart from pain (in women patients), none of the variables representing t=

he

> disease course changed between the 12- and 24-month visits. Women had hig=

her

> HAQ scores than men at both visits and a higher DAS28 score at the 24-mon=

th

> visit. There were no differences between men and women in use of

> nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, oral corticosteroids, o=

r

> disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

>

> Devices help most patients maintain function

>

> Most patients reported no major difficulties with daily activities even a=

t 2

> years after RA diagnosis. Of the women, 69% at 12 months and 72% at 24

> months reported performing all the measured activities without difficulty=

,

> as did 82% and 83% of men, respectively. At the 24-month visit, difficult=

y

> had decreased in women for 6 activities, had decreased in men for 2

> activities, and had increased for men in 1 activity.

>

> Assistive devices contributed greatly to this result. One hundred twenty

> four of the 196 women and 30 of 56 men used an average of 6 ADs. As might=

be

> expected, these were mainly patients with more severe disease and more

> pronounced disability, especially grip force. Women and men both reported=

> greatest problems with activities involved in eating and drinking,

> especially opening jars and bottles.

>

>

> These results indicate a need for specific assessment and interventio=

n

> with regard to ADs early after the diagnosis of RA in both women and men.=

>

>

>

> Thyberg found that ADs were especially helpful in activities of eating an=

d

> drinking. " Seventy-eight percent of women and 54% of men reported using A=

Ds.

> These results indicate a need for specific assessment and intervention wi=

th

> regard to ADs early after the diagnosis of RA in both women and men, " she=

> writes.

>

> Thyberg points out that the costs associated with use of ADs are minimal:=

an

> average of $8 per device. " The rationale for using ADs may sometimes be p=

ain

> relief or other preventive purposes and may in many instances be

> prerequisites to performing an activity, " she says.

>

> Assistive devices that significantly improved eating and drinking activit=

y

> limitations in early RA

>

> Activity limitation Assistive device

> Using knife, fork Large-handled grips, angled handle

> Cutting bread Bread knife with angled handle

> Slicing cheese Angled cheese slicer, wrist orthoses

> Opening milk carton Springy scissors and tongs

> Opening bottle Prolonged opener

> Opening glass jar Prolonged opener, antislip pad

> Opening juice bottle Springy tongs, antislip pad, vacuum opener

> Opening can Jar opener, electric can opener, antislip pad

[Guest guest]

dreamer_plus7/27/04 8:29 PMdreamer_plus@...

> what limitations have the people here had?

> I had to give up my stick shift car, I could not do the clutch.

> I could not carry a gallon jug of milk, nor cases or even 2 liter bottles o=

> f pop. For awhile I could not drink from a glass without a straw cuz I coul=

> d not hold my wrist to tip the glass to my mouth, and for ahwhile I could no=

> t even hold a glass, nor carry a plate.

> Brushing my hair was most impossible for quite awhile, my wrist could not t=

> olerate it at all..

> I was in nursing school and my medical textbooks were too heavy for me to l=

> ift at all, and I could not rip tape, manuver IVs etc....or open blister pac=

> ks of pills. For a short time I could not even write a check to pay the mon=

> thly bills and taught my then 11 year old how to do so. My fingers and toes=

> and wrists and ankles refused to allow me to wear socks or anything other t=

> han slide in shoes---

> Gosh I am SO glad to not be THAT actively ill anymore!!!!

> I did not know of so many assistive devices....

>

>

>

> - In , a54 <a54@s...> wrote:

>> Assistive devices often useful even in early RA

>>

>> Jul 26, 2004 Janis

>>

>> Linköping, Sweden - A 2-year follow-up of patients with recent-onset

>> rheumatoid arthritis (RA) found that most had fairly stable activity

>> limitations over that period and that many benefited significantly from t=

> he

>> use of assistive devices (AD), such as long-handed or angle-handed cutler=

> y

>> and opening devices for jars and cans [1].

>>

>> " Just 1 year after RA diagnosis, patients report activity limitations in

>> many daily activities. The extent of activity limitations seems to be sta=

> ble

>> between 12 and 24 months after diagnosis, " Dr Ingred Thyberg (University

>> Hospital of Linköping, Sweden) reports in the June 15, 2004 issue of

>> Arthritis & Rheumatism. " The use of assistive devices was related to more=

>

>> severe disease and more pronounced impairment, indicating a need for earl=

> y

>> AD intervention. ADs significantly improved performance of daily activiti=

> es

>> in both women and men. "

>> Activity limitations appear early but remain stable over first 2 years

>>

>> The main goals of this study were to measure activity limitation in women=

>

>> and men with early RA, to measure the effect of ADs, and to identify

>> indicators of a need for early AD intervention. The patients were 196 wom=

> en

>> and 88 men with RA onset within 1 year before entry into an ongoing,

>> multicenter, early-arthritis study who remained in the study for 24 month=

> s.

>>

>> Activity limitation was measured by the self-administered disease-specifi=

> c

>> Swedish Evaluation of Daily Activity Questionnaire (EDAQ), which includes=

>

>> 102 possible activities. Activities where more than 5% of patients report=

> ed

>> the use of ADs were analyzed further for the efficacy of ADs. Disease

>> activity was measured by erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), physicians=

> '

>> global assessment of disease activity (PGA), and Disease Activity Score i=

> n

>> 28 joints (DAS28). Grip force, pain and fatigue on visual analog scales, =

> and

>> disability measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) were als=

> o

>> assessed.

>>

>> Apart from pain (in women patients), none of the variables representing t=

> he

>> disease course changed between the 12- and 24-month visits. Women had hig=

> her

>> HAQ scores than men at both visits and a higher DAS28 score at the 24-mon=

> th

>> visit. There were no differences between men and women in use of

>> nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, oral corticosteroids, o=

> r

>> disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).

>>

>> Devices help most patients maintain function

>>

>> Most patients reported no major difficulties with daily activities even a=

> t 2

>> years after RA diagnosis. Of the women, 69% at 12 months and 72% at 24

>> months reported performing all the measured activities without difficulty=

> ,

>> as did 82% and 83% of men, respectively. At the 24-month visit, difficult=

> y

>> had decreased in women for 6 activities, had decreased in men for 2

>> activities, and had increased for men in 1 activity.

>>

>> Assistive devices contributed greatly to this result. One hundred twenty

>> four of the 196 women and 30 of 56 men used an average of 6 ADs. As might=

> be

>> expected, these were mainly patients with more severe disease and more

>> pronounced disability, especially grip force. Women and men both reported=

>

>> greatest problems with activities involved in eating and drinking,

>> especially opening jars and bottles.

>>

>>

>> These results indicate a need for specific assessment and interventio=

> n

>> with regard to ADs early after the diagnosis of RA in both women and men.=

>

>>

>>

>>

>> Thyberg found that ADs were especially helpful in activities of eating an=

> d

>> drinking. " Seventy-eight percent of women and 54% of men reported using A=

> Ds.

>> These results indicate a need for specific assessment and intervention wi=

> th

>> regard to ADs early after the diagnosis of RA in both women and men, " she=

>

>> writes.

>>

>> Thyberg points out that the costs associated with use of ADs are minimal:=

> an

>> average of $8 per device. " The rationale for using ADs may sometimes be p=

> ain

>> relief or other preventive purposes and may in many instances be

>> prerequisites to performing an activity, " she says.

>>

>> Assistive devices that significantly improved eating and drinking activit=

> y

>> limitations in early RA

>>

>> Activity limitation Assistive device

>> Using knife, fork Large-handled grips, angled handle

>> Cutting bread Bread knife with angled handle

>> Slicing cheese Angled cheese slicer, wrist orthoses

>> Opening milk carton Springy scissors and tongs

>> Opening bottle Prolonged opener

>> Opening glass jar Prolonged opener, antislip pad

>> Opening juice bottle Springy tongs, antislip pad, vacuum opener

>> Opening can Jar opener, electric can opener, antislip pad

>

>

>

>