[The impact of physical therapy on the quality of life of patients with rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis].
BACKGROUND
This open, uncontrolled study examined the effects of physical therapy and rehabilitation on the quality of life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).


METHODS
The study included a total of 109 patients (69 with RA and 40 with PsA). Patients came from Norway for a four-week rehabilitation period at the Institute of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation & Rheumatology--Igalo from June till October, 2003. This was a self-controlled, pretest/posttest study. All patients had six days of physical therapy per week, during a four-week stay, which made a total of 24 therapy days. Basic therapy included mud packs/baths, kinesitherapy, hydrokinesitherapy and electrotherapy with analgesic effects. Quality of Life measurements were conducted two times (on admission and discharge) using questionnaire EuroQoL (EQ-5D). The research also included evaluation of ACR improvement.


RESULTS
Pain/disability scale and the well being scale showed that quality of life in patients with PsA was significantly lower in comparison with RA patients. However, after 4 weeks, quality of life was much better in most dimensions of the EuroQoL questionnaire. Patients showed no improvement in self-care activities (in both group.) and daily activities (in group with PsA). Significant improvement was measured also in ACR improvement criteria (around 30%).


CONCLUSIONS
Physical therapy at the Igalo Institute and good climate conditions have significantly improved the Health-Related-Quality-of-Life in both groups of patients. ACR index showed great
Mustur
Dusan
D
Institut za fizikalnu medicinu, rehabilitaciju i reumatologiju Dr Simo Milosević, Igalo. Mustur@doctor.com
Vujasinović-Stupar
Nada
N
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D011788:Quality of Life