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Journals / Journal of Exercise Therapy and Rehabilitation / 2025 / Cilt: 12 Sayı: 3

Comparison of the mechanical properties of hand and wrist muscles at rest and during activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their healthy peers

Romatoid artritli hastalarda sağlıklı akranlarına göre el ve el bileği kaslarının mekanik özelliklerinin istirahat ve aktivite halinde karşılaştırılması

Hakan Polat(SANKO Üniversitesi)0000-0002-3704-9081
Serkan Usgu(HASAN KALYONCU ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-4820-9490
Engin Ramazanoğlu(SANKO ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-2765-0121
Zehra Doğmuş(SANKO ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0009-0004-0201-3507
Fatih Albayrak(GAZİANTEP ÜNİVERSİTESİ, TIP FAKÜLTESİ)0000-0002-6052-3896
Bünyamin Kısacık(SANKO ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0002-3073-9098
Pages
207–217
Publication Date
2025-12-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Rehabilitation programs for the hands and wrists in these patients should prioritize specific exercises targeting the flexor and thenar muscle groups (e.g., relaxation, stretching, functional exercises) and include approaches aimed at improving overall hand functionality.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the mechanical properties of the hand and wrist muscles in patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) both at rest and during contraction.
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Key Findings & Data:Methods: A total of 83 individuals, including 42 Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients and 41 healthy individuals, were included in the study.
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Conclusion & Impact:Rehabilitation programs for the hands and wrists in these patients should prioritize specific exercises targeting the flexor and thenar muscle groups (e.g., relaxation, stretching, functional exercises) and include approaches aimed at improving overall hand functionality.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Elastisite · El ve el bileği · Romatoid artrit

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the mechanical properties of the hand and wrist muscles in patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) both at rest and during contraction. Methods: A total of 83 individuals, including 42 Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients and 41 healthy individuals, were included in the study. Hand and wrist functionality was assessed using the Duru Öz Hand Index, and the mechanical properties of the muscles were evaluated using the MyotonPro® device during both during contraction and rest. Results: The tone and stiffness values of the flexor muscle in the left and right wrists of healthy individuals (except for the right wrist at rest) during both rest and during contraction were higher compared to RA patients (p 0.05).In RA patients, the tone and stiffness values of the muscle in the right and left thenar region, measured at rest, were higher compared to healthy individuals (p 0.05). The Duru Öz Hand Index scores of RA patients were lower than those of healthy individuals (p<0.05). Conclusion: The mechanical properties (stiffness and tone) of the flexor and thenar muscles in RA primarily affect the wrist and hand regions. Rehabilitation programs for the hands and wrists in these patients should prioritize specific exercises targeting the flexor and thenar muscle groups (e.g., relaxation, stretching, functional exercises) and include approaches aimed at improving overall hand functionality.

Özet

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Romatoid Artrit tanısı almış hastalarda el ve el bileği bölgesindeki kasların mekaniksel özelliklerinin istirahat ve aktivite halinde değerlendirmekti. Yöntem: Çalışmaya 42 Romatoid Artrit (RA) hastası, 41 sağlıklı birey olmak üzere toplam 83 birey dahil edildi. El ve el bileği fonksiyonelliği DuruÖz El İndeksi, kasların mekaniksel özellikleri MyotonPro® cihazı ile aktivite ve dinlenme halinde değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Sağlıklı bireylerin sol ve sağ el bileği ölçülen fleksör kasın (sağ istirahat hariç) istirahat ve aktivite halindeki tonus ve sertlik değerleri RA’lı hastalara göre daha yüksek iken (p 0,05). RA’lı hastaların sağ ve sol tenar bölge istirahat halinde ölçülen kasın tonus ve sertlik değerleri sağlıklılara göre yüksek iken (p 0,05). RA’lı hastaların duru öz el indeksi skorları sağlıklara göre daha düşüktü (p<0,05). Sonuç: RA’de fleksör ve tenar bölge kasların mekanik özellikleri (sertlik ve tonus), bölgesel olarak ta önce el bileği ve el olmak üzere etkilendiği görülmektedir. Bu hastaların el-el bileği rehabilitasyonunda öncelikli olarak fleksör ve tenar kas gruplarına yönelik spesifik egzersizler (gevşeme, germe, fonksiyonel egzersizler, vb.) içermeli ve genel el fonksiyonlarını geliştirmeye yönelik yaklaşımlar belirlenmelidir.

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Cite This Article

Polat, H., Usgu, S., Ramazanoğlu, E., Doğmuş, Z., Albayrak, F., Kısacık, B. (2025). Comparison of the mechanical properties of hand and wrist muscles at rest and during activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and their healthy peers. Journal of Exercise Therapy and Rehabilitation, Cilt: 12 Sayı: 3, 207–217. https://doi.org/10.15437/jetr.1606656

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