Musculoskeletal pain and functional ability in haemophilia A and B. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation in haemophilia patients

The present study was carried out to evaluate the progress of physical musculoskeletal ability and pain in Finnish haemophilia A and B patients during a given period of time and to find out the role of rehabilitation and physiotherapy in this process. In the physiotherapy/ rehabilitation group, pain index by visual analogue scale (VAS) improved through time by 26%/4.6%. The nontreatment group showed slight aggravation. Regression analysis revealed that age, pain intensity, and functional disability in 1994 were the only significant explanatory factors influencing musculoskeletal functional ability at the end of the study. The current study was not planned as an intervention study and yet the results show some evidence, although not strongly, of the positive effect of physiotherapy and inpatient rehabilitation courses in reducing pain and functional disability for haemophilia patients. One of the important contributions of physiotherapy and rehabilitation is their educational role.