Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with arthritis of the wrist.
Conditions
Interventions
Patients are randomly allocated to the experimental group (splinting intervention as adjuvant to usual treatment) or the control group (usual treatment). Patients in the experimental group receive a w
Sponsors
University of Twente
Department of Psychology and Communication of Health and Risk
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Diagnosis of RA according to the 1987 ACR criteria; 2. Stable DMARD therapy during preceding 3 months and no change expected for the next 4 weeks; 3. Stable symptomatic therapy (NSAIDs and corticosteroids) during preceding 2 weeks and no change expected for the next 4 weeks); 4. Active arthritis of the wrist due to RA (clinical judgement rheumatologist); 5. Painful wrist over de past 24 hours (VAS score > 35 mm; 6. Age > 17 years.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Unable to wear a wrist splint (by a rash, allergies, etc.); 2. An injection of corticosteroid medication in the wrist or any small joints of the hand or flexor tendon sheath of the hand within the preceding 1 month or the expectation that such an injection will be indicated in the next 4 weeks; 3. Carpal tunnel syndrome; 4. Deformities of wrist (any (sub)luxation, any deviation) and / or fingers (as there are MCP ulnar drifts, swan neck deformities, boutonniere deformities, subluxations thumb); 5. History of jint surgery of the wrist; 6. Use of a wrist orthesis during the 2 weeks prior to participation in the study; 7. Steinbrocker functional classification of 4; 8. Difficulties with the Dutch language.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Patients are measured twice: at baseline and after 4 weeks. Primary outcome measure is pain in the wrist (VAS 0 - 100 mm). | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Secondary outcome measures are: 1. Pain in de wrist (box scale 0 - 10); 2. Number of painful and swollen joints in the hand (joint count max score 11 and Ritchie scale (max score 33); 3. Synovitis (ultrasound); 4. Grip strength; 5. Dexterity (SODA, DASH); 6. Patient's subjective judgement about the effect of the splint on pain, swelling, grip strength and hand function. | — |
Contacts
Public ContactM.M. Veehof
University Twente, Department of Psychology and Communication of Health and Risk, P.O. Box 217
Outcome results
None listed