Rehabilitation treatment strategies for rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common chronic autoimmune disease, with a global incidence rate of 0.5%-1.0%. The disease is mainly characterized by morning stiffness, swelling, deformation, and pain of the joints, which significantly impairs patients' quality of life. Currently, clinical treatment for the active phase of RA primarily relies on medications and surgery. While these approaches can alleviate inflammation and pain, they are prone to causing side effects such as liver function damage and gastrointestinal reactions. Therefore, rehabilitation therapy has become a key method to compensate for the limitations of medications and improve patients' functional abilities. This paper reviews three types of rehabilitation methods. Occupational therapy, cryotherapy, and orthotic rehabilitation engineering. In occupational therapy, individualized exercise programs, task-oriented training, and digital tools can improve patients' functions; however, the combined benefits of compensatory interventions and exercise training remain controversial. Cryotherapy can relieve symptoms, and cold air plasma can further inhibit synovial hyperplasia. Orthotics can improve joint function, and technologies such as 3D printing have facilitated the personalized development of orthotics. In the future, efforts should be made to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, explore combined therapies, establish standardized evaluation systems, and conduct large-sample long-term studies.