EFFECTIVENESS OF DIRECT TRANSCRANIAL CURRENT TREATMENT IN THE METACARPOPHALANGEAL JOINT OF A PATIENT DIAGNOSED WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A CASE STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic pathology that affects the upper limb and, specifically, the hand, being very limiting for the daily activities of the person. Transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS) has been used in pathologies similar to RA, being a conservative and safe treatment, although little studied. Objective: describes the results obtained after applying TDCS in a person with RA hand involvement. Material and method: Study of a clinical case of a 60-year-old male patient with RA. Intervention: treatment for 5 consecutive days with TDCS. The subject was evaluated before the first intervention, at the end of the treatment and four weeks after the end of the treatment. Variables were analyzed: pain and joint pressure in the hand, active mobility of the meta-carpophalangeal joints (MCF) and quality of life. Results: after the intervention, the patient presented clinical and functional improvement in the perception of pain, pressure, increased active joint mobility (flex extension MCF) and in quality of life. This improvement diminishes 4 weeks after treatment. Conclusion: TDCS provides benefits at the functional, goniometric, painful level in the MCF and in quality of life. The greatest benefit was obtained in short term after first week of intervention.