Complex rehabilitation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic autoimmune disease characterized by symmetrical polyarthritis, joint pain, and morning stiffness. It significantly impairs physical condition and increases the risk of functional disability. While conventional treatments include drug therapy, many patients continue to experience symptoms and seek alternative therapies to improve their condition. This article describes two clinical cases of RA patients treated with a comprehensive rehabilitation program, including moderate-intensity walking, yoga, and nutritional therapy. The study aimed to evaluate this approach's effectiveness in improving the patients' functional capacity and quality of life. The first patient (50 year-old female) noted a significant reduction in the number of painful joints (by 14) and swollen joints (by 12) after a three-month rehabilitation course. The visual analog scale (VAS) pain level decreased from 80 mm to 50 mm, and the duration of morning stiffness decreased from several hours to 80 min. The second patient (45 year-old female) also showed improvement painful joints decreased from 13 to 2, and swollen joints from 7 to 1. VAS pain level decreased from 80 mm to 40 mm, and morning stiffness decreased by 50 min. Both patients reported an average reduction in excess weight by 1.65 kg/m², along with improvements in general well-being and mood. The results confirm that a comprehensive rehabilitation approach, including physical activity, yoga, and diet therapy, significantly improves the condition of RA patients. This approach helps reduce pain, decrease the number of inflamed joints, and improve overall functionality. Further studies with a larger sample are needed to determine the optimal rehabilitation strategies and the most impactful interventions.