A physiotherapy program based on fascial therapy is safe in patients with hemophilia. Fascial therapy may improve joint status, pain, and mobility in patients with hemophiliac arthropathy of the knee and ankle.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a manual therapy using fascial therapy on joint bleeding, joint pain and joint function in patients with hemophilic ankle arthropathy. Setting: Hemophilia patient associations. Design: Randomized, controlled trial, multicenter and intention-to-treat analysis. Participants: A total of 65 patients with hemophilic ankle arthropathy. Intervention: The experimental group ( n = 33) received one fascial therapy session per week for three weeks. The control group ( n = 32) received no treatment. Outcome measure: The primary outcome was frequency of joint bleeding measured using self-reporting. Secondary outcomes were joint pain (under load-bearing and non-load-bearing conditions) measured using the visual analog scale; joint condition was measured using the Hemophilia Joint Health Score. Outcomes were measured at baseline, posttreatment and after five months of follow-up. Results: Improvements in the frequency joint bleeding at T0, T1 and T2 were significantly higher in the experimental group (T0: mean (SD) = 1.56 (1.30); T1: mean (SD) = 0.00 (0.00); T2: mean (SD) = 0.27 (0.57)) compared to the control group (T0: mean (SD) = 1.70 (1.78); T1: mean (SD) = 0.05 (0.21); T2: mean (SD) = 0.58 (0.85)). Mean improvement of joint state after the study period was 1.74 points (±1.66) for patients in the experimental group, while the control group exhibited a joint deterioration with 0.43 points (±0.85). Ankle joint pain under load-bearing and non-load-bearing conditions improved in the experimental group with −1.72 (±1.86) and −0.50 (±1.39) points, respectively. Conclusion: The study showed that fascial therapy is favorable for patients with hemophilic ankle arthropathy.

No abstract

No abstract

Hemophilia is a congenital coagulopathy characterized by a deficiency of one of the clotting factors. It is characterized by the development of hematomas and hemarthrosis, either spontaneously or after minor trauma. The recurrence of hemarthroses leads to progressive and degenerative joint damage from childhood (hemophilic arthropathy). This arthropathy is characterized by disabling physical effects that limit the functionality and quality of life of these patients. Medical progress achieved over the last decade in the drug treatment of hemophilia has improved the medium and long-term prospects of patients with more effective and long-lasting drugs. The universal use of safer, more effective and prolonged prophylactic treatments may promote the prevention of bleeding, and also therefore, of the development of hemarthrosis and joint damage. A number of imaging instruments have been developed for the assessment of hemarthrosis and hemophilic arthropathy, using ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging and simple radiology. Different physical examination scores and questionnaires allow the assessment of joint health, self-perceived activity and functionality of patients with hemophilia. The approach to these patients should be interdisciplinary. Assessment of the processes that affect pain in these patients and the development of pain education models should be implemented. Expert advice and information to patients with hemophilia should be based on individual functional prevention diagnoses, advice on available therapies and sports practice, as well as health recommendations.

No abstract

No abstract

Background: Chronic joint injury of the elbow joint is common in patients with hemophilia. Myofascial release is used for the management of pain and functionality in patients with chronic restrictions. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of myofascial release in patients with hemophilic elbow arthropathy. Methods: Sixty-nine patients with hemophilia took part in this randomized controlled trial. They were recruited from 10 hemophilia patient Associations. They were randomly allocated to experimental (n = 35) or control group (n = 34). The intervention consisted of three 50-min sessions of fascial therapy over a 3-week period. The intervention included 11 bilaterally administered maneuvers in both upper limbs (from shoulder girdle to forearm). The study variables were frequency of elbow bleeding (self-report), joint status (Hemophilia Joint Health Score), and joint pain (visual analog scale) at baseline, after the intervention, and at the 3-month follow-up. Results: There were significant changes ( P < .001) in the repeated measures factor in the frequency of hemarthrosis ( F = 20.64), joint status ( F = 31.45), and perceived joint pain ( F = 30.08). We found group interaction with the ( P < .001) in the frequency of hemarthrosis ( F = 21.57), joint status ( F = 99.98), and perceived joint pain ( F = 44.26). There were changes ( P < .01) in the pairwise comparison analysis between the pretreatment assessment and the posttreatment and follow-up assessments. Conclusions: Myofascial release decreases frequency of elbow bleedings, and improved joint status and perception of elbow pain in patients with hemophilic elbow arthropathy. Myofascial release may be recommended to improve joint status and joint pain in patients with hemophilic elbow arthropathy.