rheumatoid arthritis

RA Hand Exam

Screening of Joints

 

Neck

-  ROM

 

Shoulder

- behind head / to mouth

- to back pocket 

 

Elbows

- flex / extend elbows 

- pronation / supination with thumb up & elbows by side

 

Wrist

- flexion / extension

 

Hand

- make fist with thumb in and out 

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Definition 

 

A chronic systemic, autoimmune inflammatory disease of unknown cause

 

Epidemiology

 

1% of population

 

M:F = 1:3

 

Peak onset 40 years

 

Most common inflammatory arthropathy

 

Aetiology

 

Autoimmune

- trigger not identified

- cell mediated immune response