Review article

Rehabilitation of patients with rheumatic diseases

Đurđa Babić-Naglić ; Klinika za reumatske bolesti i rehabilitaciju, KBC Zagreb, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Tea Schnurrer-Luke-Vrbanić orcid.org/0000-0002-9161-4328 ; Centar za fizikalnu i rehabilitacijsku medicinu, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Hrvatska

Abstract

The rheumatic diseases are more than 100 diverse disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system. The goal of rehabilitation of patients with rheumatic diseases, is maximal preservation or the recovery of the patients’ physical, psychological and social functions. It is a continuous and systematic process which is performed by a multidisciplinary team, with long-term and short-term goals, depending on the status of the patient. The International classification of functioning, disability and health provides the framework for the classification of the consequences of diseases, patient’s functioning and the level of health. Specialised rehabilitation programmes for rheumatic patients are created on individual basis, and usually consist of active methods (kinesitherapy, work therapy) and passive methods (thermoterapy, electrotherapy, orthosis, walking aids and assistive devices). When planning the proceedings, local symptoms are taken into consideration first and then general health condition is targeted systematically. It is therefore, extremely important to educate patients concerning the nature of the disease, medication therapy, their way of life and self-management interventions. Vocational rehabilitation appears to be most successful when permanent work disability has not yet occured.

Keywords

physical therapy; rehabilitation; rheumatic diseases

Hrčak ID:

95721

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/95721

Publication date:

3.12.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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