Physios can contribute to rheumatoid arthritis guideline

^{NICE recommends specialist physiotherapy for people with rheumatoid arthritis}

This is one of the recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), in a draft guideline on managing rheumatoid arthritis in adults.

One of its proposals is that health professionals who treat people with the rheumatoid arthritis should be aiming to achieve a target of remission, or low disease activity when remission is unachievable.

NICE also says that adults with the autoimmune disease should have access to specialist physiotherapy, with follow up reviews, so they can

• receive exercise advice and improve their general fitness
• learn exercises for enhancing joint flexibility and muscle strength
• manage other functional impairments
• learn about the short-term pain relief provided by methods such as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulators and wax baths

Published in January, the draft is open for public consultation until 1 March 2018.

Author: Robert Millett