Is a Standard Hand Rehabilitation Program Sufficient in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients With Central Sensitization

May 18, 2026 updated by: Fulya Coşkun
The presence of central sensitization leads to overestimation of pain sensitivity and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Central sensitization should not be overlooked in RA patients to avoid over-treatment for inflammation and to determine the need for treatment of nociplastic pain. While literature contains no studies comparing alternative programs with the standard hand rehabilitation program in the presence of central sensitization in rheumatoid arthritis patients, the objective of this study is to investigate whether desensitization exercises provide additional benefit in this patient group.

Study Overview

Status

Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The study is designed prospectively and will be conducted between August 22, 2025, and June 22, 2026. Patients who are regularly followed in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation rheumatology outpatient clinic of Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital and who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be included. Demographic data such as age, height, weight, waist circumference, and diet type of participants will be recorded. At baseline, the Central Sensitization Scale, Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Scale, RA Articular Damage Score, Health Assessment Questionnaire, and Duruöz Hand Index questionnaires will be administered. DAS28 and ACR50 responses will be noted. Sedimentation and CRP values from routine follow-up files, as well as hand dynamometry and pinchmeter (lateral, palmar, and fingertip) grip strengths, will be recorded.

The study consists of one group of rheumatoid arthritis patients and two groups of rheumatoid arthritis patients with accompanying central sensitization. Group 1 (Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients) and Group 2 (Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Central Sensitization) will be taught determined strengthening and mobility exercises under the supervision of a physiotherapist to ensure correct home application. The investigator will also provide recorded exercise videos and handouts for patients. Group 3 (RA Patients with Central Sensitization) will additionally perform desensitization exercises 7 days a week for 3 months, in addition to the strengthening and mobility exercises. Randomization will be conducted using the sealed envelope method. Patient compliance with the exercise program will be monitored by the investigator via telephone contact on specific days of the week.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

81

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • ÜSKÜDAR
      • Istanbul, ÜSKÜDAR, Turkey (Türkiye), 34674
        • Haydarpaşa Numune Eğitim Ve Araştirma Hastanesi Validebağ Ek Hizmet Binasi

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion *Rheumatoid Arthritis Group Without Central Sensitization (Group 1):

  • Being between 18-75 years of age
  • Not having had upper extremity surgery within the last 1 year
  • Patients without active arthritis
  • No change in medical treatment in the last 3 months

  • Having mild-moderate disease activity according to DAS28

    *Rheumatoid Arthritis Group with Central Sensitization (Group 2):

  • Being between 18-75 years of age
  • Not having had upper extremity surgery within the last 1 year
  • Patients without active arthritis
  • No change in medical treatment in the last 3 months

  • Having mild-moderate disease activity according to DAS28

    *Rheumatoid Arthritis Group with Central Sensitization (Group 3):

  • Being between 18-75 years of age
  • Not having had upper extremity surgery within the last 1 year
  • Patients without active arthritis
  • No change in medical treatment in the last 3 months
  • Having mild-moderate disease activity according to DAS28

Criteria:

-

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Having had surgery on the extremity to be treated within the last 6 months
  • Patients with active arthritis
  • Patients with cognitive deficit
  • Patients who do not consent to participate in the study

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
SARAH Exercise
Other: Exercise1
Participants will be asked to practice home exercises every day of the week for 12 weeks. The SARAH exercise program consists of 7 mobility and 4 strengthening exercises. Progress will be made by increasing the repetitions and duration of the exercises every week.
Experimental: Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Central Sensitization1
SARAH Exercise
Other: Exercise2
Participants will be asked to practice home exercises every day of the week for 12 weeks. The SARAH exercise program consists of 7 mobility and 4 strengthening exercises. Progress will be made by increasing the repetitions and duration of the exercises every week.
Experimental: Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Central Sensitization2
SARAH Exercise + Desensitization Exercises
Other: Exercise3
Participants will be asked to practice home exercises every day of the week for 12 weeks. The SARAH exercise program consists of 7 mobility and 4 strengthening exercises. In addition to the strengthening and mobility exercises, participants will also perform desensitization exercises 7 days a week for 3 months. Progress will be made by increasing the repetitions and duration of the exercises every week.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
VAS
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the 3-month exercise program, and at the 6-month follow-up.
The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is used to assess pain intensity. Scores range from 0 to 10, where 0 represents "no pain" and 10 represents "the worst possible pain." Lower scores indicate a better clinical outcome.
Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the 3-month exercise program, and at the 6-month follow-up.
CENTRAL DESENSİTİZATİON SCALE
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the 3-month exercise program, and at the 6-month follow-up.
Participants were categorized based on their Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) scores, which range from 0 (no symptoms) to 100 (extreme symptoms). A clinical threshold was set at 40; participants scoring 40 or higher were identified as meeting the criteria for central sensitization
Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the 3-month exercise program, and at the 6-month follow-up.
DURUOZ HAND INDEX
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the 3-month exercise program, and at the 6-month follow-up.
Participants achieved a functional response based on the Duruöz Hand Index (DHI), which ranges from 0 (best outcome) to 90 (worst outcome). A response was defined as a significant reduction in the total score from baseline, where lower scores indicate improved hand function and independence in daily activities.
Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the 3-month exercise program, and at the 6-month follow-up.
Dynamometer-measured hand grip strength measurements (kg)
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the 3-month exercise program, and at the 6-month follow-up.
Hand grip strength was measured using a calibrated dynamometer to assess isometric muscle strength. Results are reported in kilograms (kg). On this scale, higher values indicate greater muscle strength and better physical performance (best outcome), while lower values indicate reduced grip strength (worst outcome).
Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the 3-month exercise program, and at the 6-month follow-up.
Pinchmeter-measured finger strength measurements (kg) (Tip, Lateral, Palmar)
Time Frame: Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the 3-month exercise program, and at the 6-month follow-up.
Finger pinch strength was measured using a calibrated pinchmeter to evaluate fine motor strength in three positions: Tip pinch (thumb to index finger), Lateral pinch (thumb to the radial side of the index finger), and Palmar pinch (thumb to index and middle fingers). Measurements are recorded in kilograms (kg). Higher values indicate greater functional strength and better hand performance (best outcome), whereas lower values indicate reduced pinch force (worst outcome).
Assessments will be conducted at baseline, at the end of the 3-month exercise program, and at the 6-month follow-up.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Fulya Coşkun

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 22, 2025

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 22, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 22, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 12, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 18, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 20, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 18, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2024KAEK18-5048

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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