Rheumatic ArthritisNCT07029113
Effects of Task-Oriented Training and Mulligan Mobilization on Hand Function, Pain and Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
A study testing Task-oriented trainig, Mulligan mobilization and Conventional treatment in people with Rheumatic Arthritis, run by Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease that frequently affects the hand joints. Over time, this disease leads to joint deformities, pain, decreased muscle strength and severe impairment in hand function. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 30 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Rheumatic Arthritis
- What is being tested?
- Task-oriented trainig, Mulligan mobilization and Conventional treatment
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 54 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2025to 8 Nov 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 30 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Followed for at least one year for the diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis, aged between 30 and 65,
- Have the cognitive capacity to understand and follow the instructions given,
- Has not undergone upper extremity surgery for orthopaedic, neurological or other reasons
- Participants with functional capacity class I-II
Who cannot join
- Severe pain as assessed by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (VAS >7),
- Declaring the intention to withdraw from the study without giving any reason,
- Having a major psychiatric disorder such as schizophrenia or major depression,
- Having cardiovascular diseases such as coronary artery disease, history of myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, uncontrolled hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Kırşehir Ahi Evran University
Kırşehir, Kırşehir, 40100
About this study
Official title: Effects of Task-Oriented Training and Mulligan Mobilization on Hand Function, Pain and Quality of Life in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease that frequently affects the hand joints. Over time, this disease leads to joint deformities, pain, decreased muscle strength and severe impairment in hand function. Functions such as independence in activities of daily living, hand skills and grip strength may be significantly limited in individuals with RA. Although hand rehabilitation is an important component of RA management, there is still a need for research on effective intervention strategies.
Read the detailed description
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease that frequently affects the hand joints. Over time, this disease leads to joint deformities, pain, decreased muscle strength and severe impairment in hand function. Functions such as independence in activities of daily living, hand skills and grip strength may be significantly limited in individuals with RA. Although hand rehabilitation is an important component of RA management, there is still a need for research on effective intervention strategies.
Conventional exercises are basic applications to maintain range of motion, muscle strength and endurance. However, these approaches may have limited effects on improving hand function. In recent years, methods such as task-oriented training and Mulligan mobilisation have gained attention for their potential to improve neuromotor control, hand dexterity and pain. Task-oriented training promotes motor learning through functional tasks, while Mulligan mobilisation aims to increase mobility through pain-free passive-joint mobilisation techniques. The effects of these two methods, separately or in combination, on hand function, pain level and quality of life in individuals with RA have not been adequately investigated.
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of task-focused training and Mulligan mobilisation on hand function, grip strength, dexterity, pain, activities of daily living and quality of life in individuals with RA.
- Conditions
- Rheumatic Arthritis
- Being tested
- Task-oriented trainig, Mulligan mobilization, Conventional treatment
- Keywords
- Rheumatic arthritis, Treatment, Mobilization
- Medical subject headings
- Rheumatic Fever
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Task-oriented trainigOther
In addition to MCP, PIP, DIP joint mobilisation and isometric exercises, the task-oriented training group will perform 30 repetitions of face washing, using a fork, drinking water with a glass, sitting and wearing a t-shirt exercises.
Mulligan mobilizationOther
In patients included in the Mulligan mobilisation group, the therapist will apply a dorsal shift from the distal radius to the carpal bones and the patient simultaneously extends the wrist. It is essential that the movement is painless; if any pain occurs during mobilisation, the direction or technique is re-evaluated. This application is performed in 8-10 repetitions and the frequency of the session is planned according to the patient's symptoms.
Conventional treatmentOther
Passive range of motion exercises, metacarpopalangeal, proximal interphalangeal and distal interphalangeal joint mobilisation and isometric exercises will be applied. Isometric exercises will be performed as 30 repetitions, while joint mobilisations will be performed by the therapist as moderate anteroposterior and mediolateral shifts.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Conventional Group | Experimental | Conventional Group, the patients performed passive range of motion (PROM) exercises, mobilization of MCP, PIP and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints and isometric exercises. While PROM and isometric exercises were applied in 30 repetitions, joint mobilizations were performed by the therapist with moderate severity in the form of anteroposterior and mediolateral gliding. Receives: Other: Conventional treatment |
| Mulligan Mobilization Group | Experimental | In the Mulligan mobilisation group, the therapist will apply a dorsal shift from the distal radius to the carpal bones and the patient will simultaneously extend the wrist. It is essential that the movement is painless; if any pain occurs during mobilisation, the direction or technique will be re-evaluated. This application will be performed in 8-10 repetitions and the frequency of the session will be planned according to the patient's symptoms. Receives: Other: Mulligan mobilization; Other: Conventional treatment |
| Task-Oriented Training Group | Experimental | In addition to MCP, PIP, DIP joint mobilisation and isometric exercises, the task-oriented training group will perform 30 repetitions of face washing, using a fork, drinking water with a glass, sitting and wearing a t-shirt exercises. Receives: Other: Task-oriented trainig; Other: Conventional treatment |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Evaluation of Hand Grip Strength
Hand grip strength of the participants was measured with a hand dynamometer (Takei Scientific Instruments Co., Ltd., Japan). During the test application, the standard positioning rules determined by the American Association of Hand Therapists will be followed. Accordingly, the participant will be ensured to be in an upright sitting position and the consistency of the measurements will be maintained by not allowing the arms to be supported.
Measured: 5 week
Secondary outcomes (4)
Evaluation of Hand Functions
Nine-Hole Peg Test and Duruöz Hand Index will be used for the evaluation of hand functions. The Nine-Hole Peg Test is a practical and rapidly applicable manual skill measurement method with scientifically proven validity and reliability. The Duruöz Hand Index was first developed in 1996 to assess hand function in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Since then, it has been shown to be valid and reliable in a wide range of upper extremity conditions. It consists of 18 questions.
Measured: 5 week
Evaluation of Pain Severity
The pain intensity of the participants will be evaluated with the McGill-Melzack Pain Questionnaire.
Measured: 5 week
Assessment of Quality of Life
The Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Questionnaire will be used to assess patient-specific symptoms and the impact of the disease on life. The Rheumatoid Arthritis Quality of Life Scale is a unique 30-item quality of life assessment tool for RA patients developed in parallel studies in the UK and the Netherlands.
Measured: 5 week
Disease Activity
The Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28) is a widely used measure in clinical settings to assess disease activity in individuals with RA. The score is derived from the number of swollen and tender joints in the patient's 28 joints, the acute-phase reactants (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, ESR, or CRP), and a 0-100 mm visual analog scale (VAS) score that reflects the patient's overall health status. The DAS-28 score categorizes disease activity as low, moderate, or high.
Measured: 5 week
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Jun 2025
- Study start1 Jul 2025
- Primary completion8 Nov 2025
- Study completion8 Nov 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Rheumatic ArthritisStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Randomized controlled trials
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator
- Enrolment
- 54 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Mehmet CANLI, Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi
- Investigators
- Mehmet CANLI, PhD., Study director, Kirsehir Ahi Evran Universitesi
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07029113
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 43834581758"
- Status last verified
- Jun 2025
- First submitted
- 8 Jun 2025
- Last updated
- 10 Dec 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No