Joint protection programs for individuals with rheumatoid artritis: review of literature

Abstract

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic and systemic disease with periods of remission and exacerbation of symmetric synovium reaching frequently the small joints. The joint protection programs (JPP) aim to maintain the joint integrity, the functional skills and reduction of pain. There was realized a survey of bibliography based on Medline between 1966 and 2007. There were identified 64.001 studies and 8 were selected, using the following rules: population with RA randomized for selection, description of the methodology of joint protection (JPP) , analyzed rules for techniques of the register pre and pos application of JPP. The studies were classified in 2 aspects: characteristics of the population and intervention. There are characteristics in most of the analyzed programs such as the use of groups, the promoting of discussion, the performance of occupational therapists and topics like RA and the principles of JPP which is the base of the application of the future programs of joint protection.