Physical self perceptions of women with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To assess the reliability and validity of the Physical Self-Perception Profile (PSPP) and the Perceived Importance Profile (PIP) and to assess relationships between these scales and disease, function, and negative affect in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: Fifty-two women (mean+/-SD age 48.4+/-10.

Amelioration of symptoms by enhancement of proprioception in patients with joint hypermobility syndrome.

Objective: Joint hypermobility syndrome (JHS) is characterized by an association between joint hypermobility and musculoskeletal pains, the latter occurring in the absence of any objective indicator of rheumatic disease. The lack of a recognizable disease marker makes this condition difficult to identify and manage. We previously observed that patients with JHS have impaired proprioception compared with that of a matched control group.

Walking ability as a measure of treatment effect in early rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To assess the clinical usefulness of a prototype walkmat system in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Subjects: Twenty-four subjects with early RA and symptomatic forefoot disease requiring therapy with second-line drugs were recruited.

Design: Each subject underwent clinical assessment together with gait analysis on the contact sensitive walkmat system and Kistler forceplate before and after six months of treatment with second-line drugs.