RESEARCH - Balance training (proprioceptive training) for patients with RA

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Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 May 12;(5):CD007648.

Balance training (proprioceptive training) for patients with

rheumatoid arthritis.

Silva KN, Mizusaki Imoto A, Almeida GJ, Atallah AN, Peccin MS,

Fernandes Moça Trevisani V.

Brazilian Cochrane Centre, 598, Pedro Toledo Street, Vila Clementino,

Sao o, SP, Brazil, 04039-001.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may have an increased

risk of falls due to impairments in lower-extremity joints, which may

result in either mobility, or postural stability problems. There is

evidence in the literature suggesting that balance, agility and

coordination training techniques can induce changes in lower-extremity

muscle activity patterns that result in improvement in dynamic joint

stability.The mechanoreceptors present in and around the joints are

responsible for maintaining postural control and joint position sense.

These receptors are integrated to compose the somatosensorial system.

In combination with visual and auditory inputs, which improve our

spatial perception even further, the systems are able to maintain a

stable body posture.However, there is a lack of information on the

efficacy of balance training alone in patients with rheumatoid

arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of balance training

(proprioceptive training) to improve functional capacity in patients

with rheumatoid arthritis.

SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of

Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2008, Issue 4),

MEDLINE via PubMed (January 1966 to December 2008), EMBASE (January

1980 to December 2008), LILACS (January 1982 to December 2008), CINAHL

(January 1982 to December 2008), PEDro and Scirus (inception to 2008).

We also handsearched conference abstracts.

SELECTION CRITERIA: All eligible randomised controlled trials (RCT) or

controlled clinical trials (CCT) comparing balance training

(proprioceptive training) with any other intervention or with no

intervention.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently

assessed titles or abstracts, or both, for inclusion criteria.

MAIN RESULTS: The electronic search identified 864 studies. From this

search, 17 studies described general exercises in rheumatoid arthritis

patients as the main topic. After analysing them, we observed that the

main interventions were exercises to improve muscle strength,

endurance, and dynamic exercises (swimming, walking, etc). As we did

not find any studies investigating the effects of balance training

alone or in combination with other therapies in patients with

rheumatoid arthritis, it was not possible to include any data

regarding the chosen topic in this systematic review.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: There is no research available examining the

efficacy of balance training alone in patients with rheumatoid

arthritis. The effectiveness and safety of balance training to improve

functional capacity of these patients remains unclear. We suggest that

future research should give more importance to balance training by

either increasing the number and duration of sessions or investigating

its efficacy alone.

PMID: 20464755

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20464755

Not an MD