Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Interventions for Pain Relief in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Review

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory condition causing joint inflammation and progressive disability. This review evaluates the efficacy of rehabilitation interventions for pain relief and functional improvement in RA patients. A systematic literature searches of PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from January 2010 to December 2024 identified six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) meeting inclusion criteria. Interventions included aerobic and strengthening exercises, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), group-based exercise programs, splinting, education, and psychosocial support. Functional ability and pain relief were the main outcomes. Conclusion The results show that exercise, splinting, and CBT are effective in reducing both functions and pain, but the inconsistency among the interventions, small sample samples, and lack of consistent measurements reduce the effectiveness of these interventions. More studies must standardize procedures and ascertain the long-term results in order to achieve optimum RA management.