Implications for Rehabilitation
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the joints and periarticular tissue. Pain, muscle weakness, and joint destruction may result in reduced range of motion (ROM), which in turn may affect the performance of activities in daily life.
Shoulder affection is frequent in patients with RA. About one-third of the patients in the present study had an active motion deficit in the shoulders.
Patients with active motion deficit had more shoulder pain and more impaired shoulder function than those without deficit. Active motion deficit associated with limitations in shoulder function in daily life.