Systematic review and meta-analysis shows physiotherapy improves pain and function in rheumatoid arthritis patients, indicating its importance in treatment strategies.
Key Points
Physiotherapeutic interventions effectively reduce pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as shown by a significant overall effect size of -0.347.
Seventeen randomized controlled trials involving 1362 participants were analyzed, providing a comprehensive overview of various physiotherapy modalities.
Aerobic and resistance exercises, hydrotherapy, and manual therapies were found to enhance functional capability and quality of life for patients.
These findings support integrating multimodal physiotherapy approaches into rheumatoid arthritis management for improved patient outcomes.