Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with joint synovium as a target. RA affects 2.1 million people in US. The cause of the disease is unknown, but according to recent studies cigarette smoking is associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms

The hallmark of rheumatoid is a symmetric distribution. The intense joint inflammation can destroy the cartilage and result in bone erosions and joint deformity.

The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis are:

• Morning stiffness. Usually last more then 1 hour.
• Swelling of wrists, metacarpal-phalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints.
• Symmetrical joint swelling
• Loss of function, pain throughout the body
• Rheumatoid nodules – occurs in areas with mechanical stress (olecranon, Achilles tendon)
• Radial (outside) deviation of the wrist with ulnar (inside) deviation of the digits.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment

Drug treatment: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID). Recent studies showed that high vitamin C intake may protect against the development of widely spread rheumatoid arthritis.

No surgery is indicated for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Physical Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The goal of physical therapy as a part of treatment supposed to reduce inflammation and gives pain relief.

• Anti-inflammatory effect
• Stimulation of adrenals to produce hormones
• Prevetion of decreasing range of motion (ROM) in affected joints
• Slow progressing of the disease
• Improve overall health and physical shape

Acute Rheumatoid Arthritis stage:
1. Laser (Helium – Neon) on the affected joints. 3-5 minutes on each joint not more than 20 minutes per session everyday for 30 sessions.
2. Short waves therapy (diathermy) on the area of adrenals, 8 to 10 minutes every other day, 12 sessions.
3. Magnetic therapy on the affected joints. Two joints can be treated at the same time. 15-20 min, every day - 15 sessions.
4. Ultrasound of the adrenals area 3-5 minutes each side every other day, 10-12 times.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Remission:
1. Manual therapy 10-15 sessions.
2. Laser (Helium – Neon) 3-5 minutes on the most inflamed joints every other day for 10 sessions.
3. Ultrasound on the affected joint 5-6 minutes every day or every other day 12 sessions.
4. Rheumatoid Arthritis Exercises

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