Efficacy of rehabilitation therapy on hospital stage of treatment of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Abstract

Objective. To assess efficacy of hospital stage of treatment including rehabilitation methods in pts with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) evaluating changes of some measures of functional status at admission and at discharge. Material and methods. 56 pts with different variants of JIA admitted to the pediatric department of the Institute of Rheumatology of RAMS and treated with medicaments and rehabilitation methods. Correction of anti-inflammatory therapy influencing functional status (NSAIDs dose increase, intra-articular injections of glucocorticoids) was done in 36 pts. In the rest of pts treatment with DMARDs was changed. Mean duration of hospital stay was 20 days. At admission and at discharge following measures were recorded: pain on VAS, dynamometry, 25 m walking time, contracture angle and amplitude of movement of joint causing disability and treated with rehabilitation methods (mean summated measures were assessed, localization was not considered). Results. Significant change of pain (29,04 mm+2,9 mm vs 9,92 mm±l,6 mm), contracture angle (19,33o±l 1,12 о vs 10,33 о ±8,34 о) and movement amplitude (71,5 о ±38,52 о vs 90,71 о ±38,52 о). Significant improvement (movement amplitude increase from 68,6±42,4 to 85,3±41,0 and angle of deformation decrease from 15±5,8 to 8,5±7,4) was achieved in 20 pts without correction of treatment influencing functional status. Conclusion. Functional status of pts with JIA improved as a result of complex treatment with medicaments and active rehabilitation methods. Importance of rehabilitation treatment in pts with JIA during hospital stay was shown.