Pain and wrist joint in rheumatoid arthritis: The impact on functional capacity

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, autoimmune, and inflammatory disease. Symptoms include polyarthritis, chronic pain, and difficulty in joint mobilization, which lead to functional disability in patients. Objectives: To assess the influence of wrist joint mobility and pain on the functional capacity of patients with RA. Methodology: Quantitative, descriptive, and correlational study in a sample of 105 patients. Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) and Visual Analog Pain Scale (VAS) were applied, and the wrist joint range of motion was measured with a goniometer. Results: Joint wrist mobility is representative of functionality (p < 0.05). However, wrist joint extension and flexion do not directly influence pain (p > 0.05). Pain was observed to impact the functional capacity in patients (p = 0.010). Conclusion: Joint wrist mobility and pain affect the daily activities of patients with RA, expressed through the functional capacity for health assessment.