Physiotherapy in subtropic climate improves functional capacity and health-related quality of life in Swedish patients with rheumatoid arthritis and spondylarthropathies still after 6 months.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to prospectively evaluate the short as well as the long-term effects of intensive physiotherapy in a stable, sunny and warm climate on physical function and health related quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondylarthropathies (SpA).


METHODS
Ninety-three Swedish patients with RA and SpA receiving physiotherapy for 4 weeks in Israel or Tenerife were followed for 6 months. Physical function was evaluated by the Swedish version of Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and quality of life by the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) questionnaire.


RESULTS
There were significant improvements in HAQ-scores and global NHP-scores as well as all subcategories of NHP immediately after the treatment abroad, effects that were still measurable after six months. At that time point nearly half of the patients had clinically meaningful reduction of HAQ-scores (> or = 0.25).


CONCLUSIONS
Physiotherapy in a warm and stable climate, with many hours of daily sunshine, is a valuable treatment complement for Swedish patients with RA and SpA.
Hafström
Ingiäld
I
Department of Rheumatology, Karolinska Institute at Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. ingiald.hafstrom@hs.se
Hallengren
Monica
M
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D025242:Spondylarthropathies / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014329:Tropical Climate