Ergotherapeutische Behandlung der rheumatoiden Hand

Abstract

Ergotherapy should be integrated into the overall treatment concept of the rheumatoid arthritis patient. This means that, for example, the physiotherapist and the physician, being members of professional groups working closest to the patient, are fully aware and well briefed on the tasks and possibilities of ergotherapy in order to make full use of the spectrum of measures.Five points of emphasis are derived from the disease (pain/restricted funktion/deformity): - Clarification and identification of the diseased condition - Self-help training - Protection of joints - Functional training - Application of a splintOn-target clarification from a functional psychological and social point of view places the ergotherapist in a position to establish priorities in individual treatment. Depending on the condition of the patient, a wide variety of measures may be effected side by side, supplementing or correlating with each other. For example: improved function will improve the patient's independance and self-reliance.In ergotherapy, the rheumatoid hand cannot be treated as an independent, seperate tool; rather, the concept of er- gotherpy demands that the patient as a whole be treated as an entity. Hence, the principal aim of all measures must be to achieve - maximum independence and self-reliance of the rheumatoid arthritis patient - Maintenance and improvement of mobility - full exploration and discovery of all the possibilities of action which can still be taken.