(RA) in detail

Question 1

What is (RA)?

Answer 1

An inflammatory destructive auto-immune disease that affects multiple joints and connective tissue throughout the body.

Question 2

What are the symptoms of Early stage (RA)?

Answer 2

This is going to include:
Weakness, fatigue, Weight loss, Flare up and remission, low grade fever with a flare up, Polyarticular (affects many joints), bilateral, insidious onset, pain, Inflammation, Stiffness lasting longer than 30 mins, limited movements, muscle hypertonicity around affected joints.

Question 3

What are the Symptoms of Late stage (RA) ?

Answer 3

This is going to include:
Decreased joint mobility.
Capsular patterns. 
Muscle contracture. 
Carpal tunnel syndrom.
Rheumatoid Nudules. 
Inflammation in the tendon. 
Muscle spasm, joint instability, Ligament laxity.

Question 4

What are the joints most affected by (RA)?

Answer 4

Knees, small joints in the hands and feet, PIP’s, DIP’s , MCP’s.

Question 5

What are some things you can observe in a client with (RA)?

Answer 5

Uneven Gate ad posture. 
Client may need help getting on and off the table. 
Ulnar Drift. 
Hyperkyphosis of the Thoracic spine. 
Protrusion of abdominal muscles. 
Flatness of chest. 
Bamboo spine. 
Decreased Lordotic curve.

Question 6

What are things you can feel when palpating for (RA)?

Answer 6

Hypertonicity and spasm of muscles surrounding the affected joint.
Bony Spurs.
(RA) nodules inflammation, heat and swelling during an attack.

Question 7

What is testing a client with (RA) in an Acute flare up like?

Answer 7

All testing of Acute Flare ups is CI’d.

Question 8

What some special test you can use on a client with (RA)?

Answer 8

Straight leg raises. 
Spurling's. 
Valsalva. 
Lhermites. 
Quadrants. 
Schobers (AS).

Question 9

What are some CI’s for treating a client with (RA)?

Answer 9

No PF ROM.
No Frictioning (Gentle circular frictioning are allowed between flare ups).
Shorter treatments.
No direct work on affected area/ joints.

Question 10

What are the aims and treatments during flare ups in a client with (RA)?

Answer 10

Decrease pain, hypertonicity, TP's and Spasms.
Gentle massage to hypertonic muscles. 
GTO. 
Cool hydro on inflamed joints. 
Decrease joint stiffness.
Mid range PR ROM. 
Grade 1 or 2 mobilization. 
Decrease muscle atrophy. 
Vibrations. 
Decrease joint deformity.

Question 11

What do treatments involve in a client with (RA) between flare ups?

Answer 11

check notes there is many things.

Question 12

What are things you can give to a client with (RA) to do at home for self care?

Answer 12

Sleeping patterns.
rest from aggravating factors.
Pain free stretch and strengthening.
AF ROM.

Question 13

What are Health history questions to ask the client about (RA)?

Answer 13

This can include things such as:
# of flare ups they have
If they have any fusion in the joints 
Any systemic disease 
Aggravating factors

Question 14

What type of testing is CI’d in Acutely inflamed joints?

Answer 14

Any testing except for AF ROM.

Question 15

What are Health history Question for a Client with (RA)?

Answer 15

Things such as:
Is it genetic
What is the Frequency of acute attacks