Evaluation of a home training programme to improve shoulder function in rheumatoid arthritis patients

A home training programme for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) subjects with shoulder dysfunction was evaluated. Twenty-eight consecutive female outpatients with RA and shoulder dysfunction were randomly assigned to two groups. One group (n = 14) received instructions for shoulder training, whereas the other (n = 14) served as a control group. Six of the control group also received home training instructions after the control period and were also included in the training group. After 8 weeks, the training group had improved muscle endurance in both arms and reported decreased pain on active motion of both shoulders. Abduction of the left arm and hand-to-neck mobility of the right arm were improved compared with the controls. It is concluded that an individually adapted home training programme, taught by a physiotherapist, can decrease pain on active shoulder motion and increase endurance of shoulder muscles in RA subjects.