[The efficiency of home and outpatient exercise program in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].
OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficiency of home and outpatient exercise program in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.


METHODS
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to home exercise program group and outpatient exercise program group. Variables of muscle and hand strength, joint mobility, visual analog scale of pain were assessed before and after the 3 months exercise course.


RESULTS
Out of 43 patients, 31 completed the study. Both groups improved in measures of muscle strength, joint mobility and pain. Differences between groups were statistically significant for measures of grip strength in the home exercise group (p=0.0001), and joint mobility--in the outpatient exercise group (p=0.047).


CONCLUSIONS
Exercise program was more effective in improving grip strength in the home exercise program group and joint mobility improved more in the outpatient exercise group.
Veitiene
Dalia
D
Center of Gerontology and Rehabilitation, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, Kalvariju 323, 2000 Vilnius, Lithuania. daliaveitiene@takas.lt
Tamulaitiene
Marija
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D015444:Exercise; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010809:Physical Fitness; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome