Musculoskeletal care
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Musculoskeletal care · Mar 2012
ReviewFactors associated with the severity and progression of self-reported hand pain and functional difficulty in community-dwelling older adults: a systematic review.
Hand problems are common in older adults and cause significant pain and disruption to everyday living. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize evidence on the factors associated with the severity and progression of self-reported hand pain and functional difficulty in population-based studies of older adults. ⋯ Both demographic and clinical factors were found to be related to self-reported hand pain severity and functional difficulty in older adults; however, the results were derived from a small number of studies, with no information on progression of hand pain and functional difficulty over time.
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Musculoskeletal care · Sep 2011
Components of sleep quality and sleep fragmentation in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
Poor sleep is increasingly recognized as contributing to a decreased quality of life, increased morbidity/mortality and heightened pain perception. The purpose of the present study was to assess components of sleep quality and self-identified contributors to sleep fragmentation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patient populations. ⋯ A high prevalence of abnormal sleep quality in both RA and OA patient populations was observed. The most common abnormality was sleep fragmentation, with an increased sleep disturbance score. 'Need to use the washroom' and 'pain' were the most common self-identified reasons for awakening from sleep. A review of sleep hygiene, optimization of urological status, and rheumatological disease symptomatic control may prove beneficial in terms of sleep health.
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Musculoskeletal care · Sep 2011
An exploration of the support person's perceptions and experiences of complex regional pain syndrome and the rehabilitation process.
We explored the perceptions and experiences of those who support a relative or friend with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a chronic pain condition of unknown aetiology usually affecting a single limb. Semi-structured interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis, and four superordinate themes are presented here. ⋯ CRPS had become integrated into the carers' lives as they sought to monitor, protect and motivate the person they supported. The themes are discussed in relation to each other and to extant literature, including work on social support and adjustment to chronic illness, and the clinical implications are explored.
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Musculoskeletal care · Dec 2010
Self-management strategies used during flares of rheumatoid arthritis in an ethnically diverse population.
Effective management of flares of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can improve symptoms and may delay disease progression. The practice of rheumatologists in managing a flare has been studied, but patients' experiences of, and responses to, disease flares remain poorly defined. This study aimed to address this issue. ⋯ This study identified a link between causal attribution of flares and the resultant self-management strategies. A perceived trigger of the flare in some patients formed a focus for their self-management strategies, whereas those who could not identify a cause aimed mainly to alleviate symptoms. A better understanding of patients' perspective in the context of disease flares will allow the development of educational programmes to facilitate more effective self-management of this important manifestation of disease.
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Musculoskeletal care · Jun 2010
Daytime patterning of fatigue and its associations with the previous night's discomfort and poor sleep among women with primary Sjögren's syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis.
Fatigue is a prominent symptom in many rheumatic diseases and has a substantial impact on many outcomes. In previous research, fatigue has been linked with poor sleep and discomfort, including joint pain and sicca symptoms. The aim of the present study was to investigate prospectively the daily variations in fatigue and the roles of discomfort and adequacy of sleep the previous night in that fatigue for people with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). ⋯ Fatigue management for people with rheumatic disease could include strategies for coping with discomfort at night and difficulties in sleeping. Further research into ameliorating fatigue should include assessments of persistent discomfort or periods of insomnia and identify disease-specific needs that require targeted intervention.