Physical therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis: the patients’ perspective
Authors' conclusion
The majority of patients with RA and axSpA received PT currently or in the past year, usually individually, long-term, and at a frequency of once a week. Although active exercises and education are recommended in guidelines, passive treatment options that are not advised were relatively often reported.
Study context
- Population
- People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) reached through communication channels of the Dutch Arthritis Foundation
- Outcome
- Duration, frequency and content of individual PT
- Follow-up
- Currently and/or in the past year
Methodological detailselectronic questionnaire, self-reported diagnoses
- Electronic questionnaire
- Self-reported diagnoses
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Individual PT received currently or recently
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Long-term (> 3 months) duration of individual PT
Long-term (> 3 months) duration of individual physical therapy (PT)
- Average frequency once per week in most
Content of long-term individual PT
- Active exercises and counselling/education each reported by RA and axSpA patients
- ≥ 73%
- Passive treatment modalities (in particular massage, kinesiotaping, and/or passive mobilization) offered
- ≥ 89%
- Same pattern in patients receiving short-term PT
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Physical therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis: the patients’ perspective. Scand J Rheumatol. Published 4 May 2023. doi:10.
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