Affiliations: [a] Physical Therapy Department, Technological Educational
Institute, Athens, Greece | [b] Galenos Physiotherapy Clinic | [c] Rehabilitation Center of Athens, Greece | [d] Physical Therapy Department, Technological Educational
Institute, Lamia, Greece | [e] Sports Statistics Laboratory, Faculty of Physical
Education and Sports Science, University of Athens, Greece
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. S. Poulis, Drios 33 Varibobi,
Athens, 13671 Greece. Tel.: +32 108169849; E-mail: spoulis@teiath.gr
Abstract: The objective of this study was twofold: to explore the effect of RA
on hand grip strength at early stage of diagnosed RA and to support the
application of isokinetic evaluation in the assessment of RA. Twenty women, age 48 ± 5 years, participated in
this study: 10 with early stage RA and 10 healthy controls. The evaluation
tests were included the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Moberg pick up
test, range of motion (ROM) of the wrist, grip strength, pinch strength, visual
analogue pain scale (VAPS) and isokinetic evaluation of concentric and
eccentric strength of the wrist flexor and extensor muscles. The statistical analysis showed no differences in ROM, grip and
pinch strength and in the isokinetic evaluation measurements between the two
groups. The HAG showed that women with early stage RA have no difficulty in
performing daily activities, and there was an increase of completion time due
to loss of optical control in the Moberg pick up test in both groups. In conclusion, women with early stage RA do not present with any
significant impairment as indicated by the above-mentioned tests.
Keywords: functional, isokinetic, hand, evaluation, RA
