Beyond the hand and upper extremity: The role of hand therapists in care of people with rheumatic diseases

Arthritis is one of the most frequently reported causes of disability in the United States (US); the prevalence of arthritis is expected to increase in the coming decades due to the aging population, obesity, and reductions in physical activity.1,2 Using data from the 2010-2012 National Health Survey, Hootman and colleagues,2 estimated that by 2040, 78.4 million adults aged 18 years and older (25.9% of the projected total adult population) will have doctor-diagnosed arthritis, compared with the 58.5 million adults in 2013-2015.
Source: Journal of Hand Therapy - Category: Rehabilitation Authors: Source Type: research