Efficacy of Applying Mild-Magnetic Compression versus Massage Therapy on Hand-Joints' Functional Disability Symptoms among Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: Functional disability of hand-joints' usually preceded by pain, stiffness, swelling, and
tenderness that are the foremost disturbing symptoms for rheumatoid arthritis patients, that
adversely affects their capacity to carry out daily tasks and, as a result, degrades their whole quality
of life. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of applying mild magnetic
compression versus massage therapy on hand-joints' functional disability symptoms among patients
with rheumatoid arthritis. Design: The research design used in this study was quasi-experimental.
Setting: The present study was carried out at the Menoufia University Hospital's rheumatology and
rehabilitation outpatient clinics, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt. Subjects: A purposive sample of
100 adult rheumatoid arthritis patients who volunteered to participate in the study and met the
inclusion criteria were randomly divided evenly into two groups. Tools: 1.Participants'
characteristics questionnaire to assess their socio-demographic features, past, present medical and
family history. 2. THE SF-SACRAH (Short Form Assessment and Quantification Score of Chronic
Rheumatic Affections of the Hands), had been adopted to assess the degree of hand joints' pain,
stiffness and functional disability 3. Ritchie Articular Index, which is a self-reported questionnaire,
had been adopted to quantify the magnitude of hand joints' swelling and tenderness. Results: The
study's primary findings demonstrated significant post-intervention improvements in a variety of
hand-joints' functional disability symptoms along all the three domains of SF-SACRAH scale
including; pain, stiffness and functional disability subscales especially among patients of mild-
magnetic compression group than in massage therapy group. Additionally, the Ritchie Articular
Index mean total scores concerning hand-joints' functional disability symptoms including; swelling
and tenderness subscales revealed a high significant improvement post-intervention than pre- among
mild-magnetic compression group than massage therapy group. Conclusion: There was a beneficial
positive relationship between mild magnetic compression and different hand-joints' functional
disability symptoms as the daily application of mild-magnetic compression gloves led to
improvements in a variety of hand-joints' functional disability symptoms including; pain, stiffness,
swelling, tenderness and function more efficiently than did massage therapy. Recommendations: A
mild-magnetic compression glove is simple, safe, easy and inexpensive therapy that should be
incorporated into the daily medication schedule of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Study
replications with extended follow-up periods to enable a better understanding of the impact of mild-
magnetic compression and to give the potential for results' generalization and to ascertain the true
therapeutic efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of mild-magnetic compression therapy for
particular clinical disorders, larger and more stringent randomized controlled trials are also required.