Abstract
There are over 400,000 people with RA in the UK[1] with the wrist and hand commonly affected in the early stages. A National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society[2] survey indicates that a patient stopping work due to RA, represents a huge cost to the UK economy and to individual patients and their families, impacting on quality of life. Effective management which results in retention in the work place is therefore enormously beneficial.
Prefabricated WHOs are commonly prescribed to reduce pain and inflammation and increase the mechanical advantage of the flexor muscles thus improving hand function during activities of daily living.
Methods
Arthritis Research Campaign funded a six month survey in 2009 to seek the opinions of RA users on orthosis provision and their experience of using prefabricated 'Futuro®' style WHOs.
Results
Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data in conjunction with a systematic literature review provides a synthesis of the potential benefits of orthosis use, and highlights the negative aspects and factors affecting compliance. There is a clear need for further research into the use of 'functional' WHOs particularly over the longer term and to develop enhanced designs of WHO to achieve optimal improvements to functional deficit and to address users' concerns.
References
1. The National Clincial Guidelines Centre for Acute and Chronic Conditions for the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), 'Rheumatoid Arthritis. National clinical guideline for management and treatment in adults. 2009, Royal College of Physicians: London.[cited 2009 Dec 16]. Available from: http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/pdf/CG79FullGuideline.pdf.
2. National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society. Employment and rheumatoid arthritis. A national picture, in National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society Survey 2007.
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Published - 2 Mar 2010 |
Event | British Association of Prosthetists & Orthotists Annual Conference - Bolton, UK Duration: 5 Mar 2010 → 7 Mar 2010 |
Conference
Conference | British Association of Prosthetists & Orthotists Annual Conference |
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City | Bolton, UK |
Period | 5/03/10 → 7/03/10 |
Keywords
- prefabricated wrist-hand orthoses
- rheumatoid arthritis
- patients
- rheumatology treatment