RESEARCH - Early OT program increases hand grip strength at 3 months in early RA

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Ann Rheum Dis. Published Online First: 17 November 2008.

doi:10.1136/ard.2008.094532

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Concise Report

Early occupational therapy program increases hand grip strength at 3

months: results from a randomized blind controlled study in early

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Régine Mathieux 1, Hubert Marotte 1, Laetitia Battistini 1, Albane

Sarrazin 1, Michel Berthier 1 and Pierre Miossec 2*

1 Hôpital Edouard Herriot, France

2 University of Lyon, France

Abstract

Purpose: The goal of occupational therapy (OT) is to facilitate

adjustments to lifestyle, and to prevent function loss. This study

evaluated the effects of an early OT program in early rheumatoid

arthritis.

Methods: A randomized blind controlled trial enrolled 60 early RA

patients divided into two groups. At baseline, group I received the

full information program and group II no information. In an extension

phase, patients of group II received at 3 months the full information

program and were assessed at 6 months. The main outcomes were grip

strength of hands (as objective assessment) and Health Assessment

Questionnaire (HAQ) score (as subjective assessment).

Results: At 3 months, grip strength of the dominant and non-dominant

hands increased more in group I than in group II (p=0.021 and 0.047

respectively). HAQ score decreased more in group I than in group II

(p<0.001). In the extension phase, changes in grip strength and HAQ

score in group II were similar that seen in group I between baseline

and 3 months.

Conclusion: This study comparing two schedules of OT program showed

that an early extended information program improved hand function in

early RA patients.

http://ard.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/ard.2008.094532v1?papetoc

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