Investigation of the effect of hand exercises on grip strength, functionality, disease activity and quality of life in individuals with psoriatic arthritis

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of hand exercises on grip strength, functionality, disease activity and quality of life in PsA. Method: 47 PsA patients (35 female, 12 male) with an average age of 51.70±9.15 were included. Patients were randomized into intervention (n:23) and control (n:24) groups. Intervention group received hand home exercises for 4 days of a week during 8 weeks. Control group was on the waiting-list. Hand dynamometer and pinchmeter was used to evaluate the hand grip and pinch strengths. Duruoz Hand Index (DHI), Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ), Hand Functional Index (HFI), Nine Peg Hole Test (NPHT) were used to evaluate the hand functinality. The Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis was used to evaluate the disease activity. Psoriatic Arthritis Quality of Life (PsAQoL) was used to evaluate the quality life. All evaluations were performed at baseline and end of the 8th week. Results: The groups were similar except for the dominant hand value of NPHT before treatment. After the treatment, DHI, HFI-dominant hand, all values of NPHT, MHQ-General hand function, MHQ-Activities of daily living both hand and total dominant values, MHQ-Satisfaction dominant hand value were significant in favour of the intervention group (p<0.05). In terms of delta (Δ) values, hand grip and pinch strengths, general hand function, activities of daily living, pain, satisfaction of MHQ, DHI, PsAQoL were in favor of the intervention group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Hand exercises should be included in rehabilitation programs as a home exercises to improve grip strength, functionality, quality of life and descrease disease activity for patients with PsA. Key words: psoriatic arthritis, hand, exercise