Nondrug, Multimodal Intervention Eases Spondyloarthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis Pain

A type of inpatient physical treatment called multimodal rheumatologic complex treatment reduced pain and analgesic use in patients with spondylarthritis and psoriatic arthritis, according to study results published online ahead of print in the European Journal of Internal Medicine.

“Multimodal rheumatologic complex treatment (MRCT) is a treatment modality, which is established in the German health system,” researchers wrote, “but due to its multidisciplinary approach and an emphasis on nonpharmaceutical treatments, an important blueprint for similar approaches that exist in various countries.”

The prospective study assessed the effects of 16 days of MRCT in 50 patients with radiographic spondyloarthritis, nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. The MRCT intervention consisted of 64 physical treatment sessions with various modalities, totaling a minimum of 1400 minutes.

Between baseline and discharge, pain levels improved significantly in participants, according to the study, with no apparent influencing factors or relevant intergroup differences. Furthermore, the positive effects of MRCT lasted throughout the study’s 12-week follow-up.

Compared with baseline, analgesic use decreased, while patient global health assessment improved throughout follow-up. The study identified no harms associated with MRCT.

“MRCT as a multimodal treatment concept with a strong emphasis on physical treatment reduces pain in spondylarthritis meaningfully and facilitates reduced analgesic usage,” researchers concluded.

Reference:
Klemm P, Preusler P, Hudowenz O, et al. Multimodal rheumatologic complex treatment in patients with spondyloarthritis - a prospective study [published online ahead of print, 2021 Jul 31]. Eur J Intern Med. 2021;S0953-6205(21)00247-8. doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2021.07.005