What is Rheumatoid Arthritis? Definition,Causes, Sign and Symptoms, Medical and Physiotherapy Management

 

Definition

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the joints and surrounding tissue. It leads to pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty moving the affected joints. Rheumatoid arthritis can also cause fever and fatigue, and if left untreated, it can lead to joint damage and disability. The cause of RA is not fully understood, but a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors are thought to be involved.

Causes of Rheumatoid Arthritis

The exact cause of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not fully understood, but it is thought to be a combination of genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. Some of the possible causes and risk factors for RA include:

Genetics: RA is more common in people who have certain genetic markers, such as the HLA-DR4 gene.

Environmental factors: Exposure to certain toxins, such as tobacco smoke and silica dust, may increase the risk of RA.

Lifestyle factors: Being overweight or obese and smoking are associated with an increased risk of RA.

Autoimmune disorder: RA is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In RA, the immune system attacks the synovial membrane, which lines the joints.

Hormonal changes: Women are more likely to develop RA than men, and the risk of RA increases after menopause.

Trauma or injury: Some studies have found that people who have experienced trauma or injury to a joint are more likely to develop RA.

Microbes: Recent research has shown that certain microbes that live in the gut, like bacterium and viruses can trigger immune response leading to RA.

Sign and Symptoms of RA

 The signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can include:

• Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, especially in the hands and feet
• Fatigue and weakness
• ‌Loss of joint function
• ‌Warm, red, and tender joints
• ‌Nodules (small lumps) under the skin, usually over bony areas
• ‌Symmetrical involvement of joints (meaning that if one hand or foot is affected, the other one is also)
• ‌Morning stiffness that lasts for at least an hour
• ‌General feeling of malaise or flu-like symptoms
• ‌Inflammation in other organs such as the lungs, eyes, or blood vessels may occur in some cases. 

Medical treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis

There are several types of medications that are used to treat RA, including:

• ‌Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen, which are used to reduce pain and inflammation.
• ‌Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which slow down or prevent joint damage. Examples include methotrexate, leflunomide, and sulfasalazine.
• ‌Biologic DMARDs, which are a newer class of medications that target specific parts of the immune system. Examples include adalimumab, certolizumab, and rituximab.
• ‌Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, which are used to reduce inflammation quickly.
• ‌Pain medications such as Tylenol and Opioid that can be used to manage pain

‌The specific treatment plan for an individual with RA will depend on the severity of their disease, their overall health, and their response to treatment.

It is important to work closely with a rheumatologist to develop an effective treatment plan and regularly monitor disease activity and side effects.

Physiotherapy Management of RA

The goals of physiotherapy for RA include reducing pain, inflammation, and stiffness; improving range of motion, strength, and function; and preventing disability.

A physiotherapist may use a variety of techniques to achieve these goals, such as:

Exercise: A physiotherapist will typically develop an individualized exercise program that includes range-of-motion exercises to maintain joint mobility, strengthening exercises to improve muscle strength, and aerobic exercises to improve cardiovascular fitness.

Manual therapy: This can include techniques such as joint mobilization and manipulation, soft tissue massage, and stretching. These techniques can help to reduce pain, inflammation, and stiffness.

Education: A physiotherapist can also educate people with RA about the condition and teach them strategies to help manage symptoms, such as posture, body mechanics, and energy conservation techniques.

Assistive device: Suggestion of splints or orthotics may be given to support joint and help with better body mechanics.

It's important to note that physiotherapy management should be tailored to meet the needs of each individual patient, and should be done under the guidance of a physiotherapist with experience in treating people with RA.