Introduction. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease with autoimmune
pathogenesis and unspecified etiology. [1, 3, 6] It is characterized by symmetrical arthropathy with rapidly
deforming and intensely destructive evolution. The clinical picture of the disease is inflammatory joint pain.
Pain specific is the increased rest and pain reduction during joint mobilization. Functional treatment involves
limiting the installation of joint deformities, maintains muscle tone and joint mobility, and maintains a
psychological and social balance of the patient. [2, 4]
Case presentation. The AC patient with the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, the activity level DAS /
DAS28 2.85, the age of 64, the urban environment, former professional sports basketball, was admitted to
the IMSP "State Hospital" (Chisinau) accusing physical asthenia, fever nocturnal, inadequacy, weight loss,
myalgia, symmetrical joint pain in the joints of the hand, morning joint pain for 90 minutes. By testing pretension
(Sidenco, 2005; Frost, 2002) [5] the following parameters were determined: when testing two-finger
pens and police-fingers: 7 points, testing of poly-finger pens 2 points, testing palms 5 points. The pain was
evaluated according to the VAS scale with 8-9 points. For the evaluation of the quality of life, the HAQ
(Health Assessment Questionnaire) scale was applied, initially the score being 2.08 points.
The patient is non-smoker and denies alcohol and drug use, the disease is 19 years old
Results. The patient received drug treatment and conventional rehabilitation therapy (kinetotherapy,
electrotherapy) and TuiNa massage for 8 weeks. At the end of the treatment the morning redness decreased
to 30 minutes, the test of the two-fingered pens and the police-fingers accumulated 3 points, the testing of
poly-finger pens 0 points, testing handheld pens 2 points. The pain evaluated according to the VAS scale
was 4-5 points and the daily activities after the HAQ scale 0.9 points.
Conclusions. The complex programs of medical rehabilitation with kinetic techniques associated with the
assisted and individualized TuiNa massage have considerably improved the functional status of the person
with functional retention of the rheumatoid hand.
The two-finger and police-finger tweezers test, the poly-finger tweezers test and the hand-held tweezers test
can be gripping assessment tools for the rheumatoid hand.