AB1125 A Comparison of the Effects of Kinesiotherapy and Post-Isometric Relaxation on Knee Pain in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Table 1.
Authors: M. Romanowski, A. Straburzyńska-Lupa, A. Romanowska, R. Lorenc
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2014)

<h3>Background</h3> Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that produces a progressive degeneration of the musculoskeletal system [1]. The management of RA rests on drug treatment and non-pharmacological measures such as exercise, occupational and psychological therapeutic approaches [2]. Exercise in RA is believed to improve joint mobility, muscle strength, and physical function [3]. Therapeutic exercise is important for pain control. Stretching is often included in physical therapy interventions for management knee pain. One of stretching techniques is post-isometric relaxation (PIR) [4]. <h3>Objectives</h3> In this study we wanted to check effectiveness of reducing pain using kinesiotherapy and post-isometric relaxation in RA patient with knee pain. <h3>Methods</h3> The patient were examined at entry to the hospital. Patient who had RA were eligible for the study if they fulfilled inclusion and exclusion criteria. They were separated into 2 groups: I (kinesiotherapy) [n=19] and II post-isometric relaxation (PIR) [n=19]. Kinesiotherapy was performed once a day for 30 minutes. Group II had kinesiotherapy as I group and PIR on 3 groups of muscle: knee flexors, knee extensors and plantar flexors of the foot. Therapy lasted for 10 days. The knee pain of the patients was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score (0-100 mm, with higher scores indicating more pain). <h3>Results</h3> See Table 1. Statistically significant differences in VAS were noted after treatment in both groups: Group I - it decreased from 59.9 (10.85) to 45.9 (19.19), p=0.0016; Group II - it decreased from 67.5 (14.9) to 32.7 (15.8), p=0.0000. Therapy in Group II was statistically significant better than Group I, p=0.0147. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The study showed positive, statistically significant effects of kinesiotherapy alone and kinesiotherapy with post-isometric relaxation on the pain in these research. However, due to the relatively small groups it is difficult to draw firm conclusions. Because of positive effects of treatment on knee pain in patient with RA, research should be continued in this area. <h3>References</h3> Aletaha D, Neogi T, Silman AJ, et al. 2010 rheumatoid arthritis classification criteria: an American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism collaborative initiative. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010 Sep;69(9):1580-8. Smolen JS, Landewé R, Breedveld FC, et al. EULAR recommendations for the management of rheumatoid arthritis with synthetic and biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010;69(6):964-75. Hurkmans E, van der Giesen FJ, Vliet Vlieland TP, Schoones J, van den Ende EC. Dynamic exercise programs (aerobic capacity and/or muscle strength training) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Oct 7;(4):CD006853. Page P. Current concepts in muscle stretching for exercise and rehabilitation. Int J Sports Phys Ther. 2012; 7(1): 109–119. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared <h3>DOI</h3> 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.2986