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Effect of exercise on morning stiffness and mobility in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Byers Patricia H.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
research in nursing and health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.836
H-Index - 85
eISSN - 1098-240X
pISSN - 0160-6891
DOI - 10.1002/nur.4770080310
Subject(s) - evening , stiffness , morning stiffness , rheumatoid arthritis , morning , medicine , physical therapy , physical medicine and rehabilitation , materials science , composite material , physics , astronomy , psoriatic arthritis
The effects of evening exercises on arthrographic measures of elastic stiffness, subjective ratings of stiffness, and graphic goniometric measures of mobility were examined in 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Measures were obtained on 2 consecutive mornings, one of which was randomly determined to be preceded by evening exercise. Each morning, elastic stiffness and mobility were measured before and after morning exercise. After the final measurements of elastic stiffness and mobility on the second day, patients compared stiffness on the 2 days. Elastic stiffness and subjective ratings of stiffness were less and mobility was greater when evening exercises were performed ( p < .001). The relationships between elastic stiffness and subjective ratings of stiffness indicated that the effect of evening exercise was perceived as greater when elastic stiffness was greater, and 21 patients reported less stiffness with evening exercise ( p < .05).