The Effect of Neurodynamic Mobilization Exercise on Lower Limb Pain in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Not Applicable

• Conditions: Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Interventions: Other: Conservative Physiotherapy; Other: Neurodynamic mobilization exercise

• Registration Number: NCT02110940
• Lead Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Brief Summary

This clinical trial is the first study to apply neurodynamic mobilization, a nervous system specific therapeutic exercise, on patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Objective of the study is to find out the effect of neurodynamic mobilization for joint inflammation in patients with RA.

Detailed Description

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by generalized joints inflammation. With increasing investigation on the pathology, the treatment focus on the conditions shifted from a musculoskeletal point of view to a systemic approach. The awareness of holistic treatment was also increased.

Latest studies have found out the neurogenic inflammatory mechanism played an important role in the inflammatory process of RA, the pathological changes of neural tissues in RA were also noted.

This clinical trial is the first study to apply neurodynamic mobilization, a nervous system specific therapeutic exercise, on patients with RA. Objective of the study is to find out the effect of neurodynamic mobilization for joint inflammation in patients with RA.

Population Adults who are diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Intervention Neurodynamic Exercise

Comparison Standard conservative physiotherapy protocol

Outcome Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Scale (RAPS) C-reactive protein (CRP) test

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2014-04-08
• Study First Submitted QC: 2014-04-09
• Study First Posted: 2014-04-10
• Study Start: 2015-08
• Status Verified: 2016-02
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-02-23
• Last Update Posted: 2016-02-25
• Primary Completion: 2016-08
• Study Completion: 2016-08

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• The inclusion criteria was considered as patients with rheumatoid arthritis; presence of inflammatory condition on the joints on upper and / or lower limbs; Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Scale (RAPS) at least 10 points during activities of daily living; and adults (> 18 years of age) in either gender.

Exclusion Criteria

• The exclusion criteria are: acute joint pain, physiotherapy or joint injections in the previous 3 months; change in corticosteroids in the previous month; and change in disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in the previous 3 months; subjects with poor balance or significant pain which neurodynamic mobilization is unable to perform.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Conservative Physiotherapy	Conservative Physiotherapy	Subjects will be referred to the physiotherapy department to receive conventional physiotherapy treatment.
Neurodynamic mobilization exercise	Neurodynamic mobilization exercise	The experimental group will be given three neurodynamic mobilization exercises which focus more on lower limbs and the major innervating cutaneous nerves - saphenous nerve, sciatica nerve and femoral nerve. Subjects will be instructed to practice everyday, each action repeat for 10 times.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Scale (RAPS)	8 weeks	Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Scale (RAPS) will be used to rate the severity of the pain in subjects with RA; before, between and after the experimental period. The questionnaire consists of 24 items with a scale from 0-6 to quantify the severity of the Rheumatoid Arthritis; The test will be conducted in the baseline, at 4th week, and the end of the investigation at 8th week.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
C-reactive protein (CRP) test	8 weeks	C-reactive protein (CRP) is one of the most widely used measurements to indicate the severity of inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis. The choice of CRP is due to its cost effectiveness, reliability and reproducibility.; The test will be coducted by nurses, a 3cc blood sample will be taken from the subject and sent to the laboratory to investigate the C-reactive protein level. The test will be conducted in the baseline, at 4th week, and the end of the investigation at 8th week.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; 🇭🇰 Hong Kong, Hong Kong