Background: The study aimed to assess hand mobility (hand strength and grip capacity) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, by means of objective measurement methods, as well as to evaluate the link between hand fitness and the level of disability in these subjects. Additionally, the authors assessed the impact of disease activity, the duration of morning stiffness and the intensity of pain on the functional condition of the hand.
Material and methods: The study group consisted of 56 patients diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The investigated characteristics included: disease activity measured with DAS28 (Disease Activity Score), disability level measured with HAQ (Health Assessment Questionnaire), as well as intensity of pain and duration of morning stiffness. Hand strength and grip capacity were assessed by means of a specially designed measuring station.
Results: The controls demonstrated significantly greater grip capacity and grip strength in the right hand in comparison with the study group (p = 0.000). Additionally, the intensity of pain was found to have a statistically significant impact on the fitness of the examined hand (r = –57; p = 0.001). Disease activity measured with DAS28 and hand fitness did not correlate significantly (r = –0.11). However, a relationship was demonstrated for the level of functional disability (HAQ) and the parameters of hand fitness (r = –0.44).
Conclusions: In the period of acute rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, hand mobility depends mainly on the intensity of pain. The level of fitness is not affected by the subjects’ age, the duration of morning stiffness or the level of disease progression. Hand fitness (hand strength and grip capacity) is a determinant of the disability level in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.