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
Evaluation of the Personal Impact Health Assessment Questionnaire (PI HAQ) to capture the impact of disability in osteoarthritis.
Measuring facts about disability may not reflect their personal impact. An individualized values instrument has been used to weight difficulty in performing activities of daily living in rheumatoid arthritis, and calculate personal impact (Personal Impact Health Assessment Questionnaire; PI HAQ). This study aimed to evaluate the PI HAQ in osteoarthritis (OA). ⋯ These studies provide an initial evaluation of an instrument to measure the personal impact of disability in people with OA, setting disability within a personal context. Further studies, including sensitivity to change, are required.