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.