Hand Exercises in Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal disease that is in the spondyloarthritis group and is frequently accompanied by peripheral arthritis, dactylitis, enthesitis, spondylitis and accompanied by psoriasis. Although hand effects in patients with PsA are known, there is no exercise study performed only on the hand and no study examining the effect of this study on the grip strength and functionality of the hand. This study is a randomized controlled study examining the effects of 8-week hand home exercises on grip strength, functionality, disease activity and quality of life in patients with PsA. 34 individuals with PsA who meet the inclusion criteria will be included in the study. Individuals participating in the study will be randomly divided into 2 groups. Individuals in the intervention group will perform 30-45 minutes of home exercises consisting of stretching, mobility and strengthening, 4 days a week for 8 weeks, and the patients' compliance with the exercise will be monitored by phone call once a week. Individuals in the control group are on the waiting list and the same home exercise program will be taught to the patients at the end of the study. Evaluations will be made twice, at the beginning and at the end of the 8-week program. In the evaluation, the demographic form, Psoriatic Arthritis Disease Activity Score (DAPSA), Grip Strength, Nine-Hole Peg Test, Duruöz Hand Index, Michigan Hand Outcome Questionnaire (MHQ) Functional Hand Index, Psoriatic Arthritis Quality of Life Questionnaire (PsAQoL) will be applied. This study will be one of the first studies to show the effects of hand exercises on PsA disease activity, grip strength, functionality and quality of life.