The Influence of Laser Therapy and Magnetotherapy on the Function and Quality of Life Patients with Rheumatoid Artritis of Hand Joints

Abstract

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, systemic complex disease involving joints and periarticular tissues, leading to disability and premature death. The most common and earliest locations of the inflammatory process involves hands. In addition to pharmacotherapy, therapeutic management includes physiotherapy, psychotherapy and patient education. Among the physical therapy methods, the role of laser therapy and magnetotherapy in achieving analgesic effects and improving functions is emphasized. AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the impact of low frequency magnetic field and laser therapy on pain reduction, quality of life and function improvement as well as range of motion hands joints in patients with RA. Material and Methods: The study involved 30 outpatient in the Rehabilitation Clinic of the University Clinical Hospital in Bialystok. Among all patients they were selected into two groups in which they were applied accordingly in the first group a laser stimulation and in the second group a low frequency magnetic field. There were performed 10 treatments in each group with a Saturday - Sunday break. Before and after rehabilitation was conducted a physical and subjective examination, which used: pain examination (VAS scale, Laitinen questionnaire), examination of hand range of motion and functional evaluation according to questionnaires: bMHQ, DASH, AIMS-2. Results: After used of physical therapy in both groups the results were obtained that pain was decreased. Moreover, the magnetotherapy improved the range of motion as well as the quality of life and functionality of patients measured according to the questionnaires: Laitinen, Breif MHQ, DASH, AIMS-2 more favorably than laser therapy. Conclusions: Both treatment: laser therapy and magnetotherapy provide an analgesic effect in patients with RA. It has been shown that magnetotherapy is more effective in improving hand joints mobility and patient’s quality of live.