1. Introduction
kmRheumatoid arthritis, Pain, toxicity, chronic pain, chronic disability, pain, Rheumatoid arthritis, RA, autoimmune disease
CHRONIC PAIN, MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS, RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS, SKIN DISEASES, AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disease characterized by intra- and extra-articular manifestations. Sand therapy is traditionally indicated for RA, chronic pain, skin diseases, and musculoskeletal disorders. Many places in the world use sand therapy, including Siwa, which is a famous place in Egypt. This study investigated the exposure time to Siwan traditional therapy as a factor influencing central sensitization, pain severity, pain threshold, and kinesiophobia in RA by measuring the central sensory inventory (CSI), visual analogue scale, pressure algometer, and TAMPA kinesiophobia scale, respectively. Twenty-four patients with RA were recruited from 6 traditional healing centers, 24 RA patients were recruited and randomly assigned to 2 equal groups (GI and GII). The first received Siwan traditional therapy for 3 days, while the second received the same program for 5 days. The results revealed a significant difference in CSI between pre- and posttreatment within the GII (The Siwa is an oasis located in the western desert of Egypt. It covers an area of 7500 kmRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disease characterized by intra- and extra-articular manifestations. RA is thought to affect between 0.5% and 1% of the population worldwide.Pain is the primary trigger for seeking medical care. Patients with chronic pain visit their primary care clinician more often. Pain evaluation also helps determine the modifications needed in the patient’s treatment plan. However, pain is a subjective variable and is very difficult to measure.Consistently elevated nociceptive impulse activity, similar to that observed in RA, may cause peripheral and central sensitization, elevated sympathetic nervous system activity, and disruption of endogenous inhibitory systems.Changes in both cells and their associated neurotransmitters are what we mean when discussing plasticity.In many musculoskeletal disorders, pain-related fear of movement or kinesiophobia plays a major role in the onset, persistence, and exacerbation of chronic disability.RA usually requires long-term treatment, with associated risks of drug toxicity.