Background/aim: This study was designed to investigate the relationship between kinesiophobia and the level of physical activity, depression, disease activity, fatigue, pain, and quality of life in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Materials and methods: Seventy volunteer female patients were included in the study. Kinesiophobia, physical activity level, disease activity, fatigue, depression, pain, and quality of life were assessed using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK),

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Background The Patient‐Rated Wrist Evaluation (PRWE) is a patient‐reported questionnaire focusing on symptoms and function in wrist pathologies. It consists of 15 questions regarding pain and functional activities of the wrist. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multi‐systemic disease characterized by inflammation of the wrist and hand joints in almost all patients. This study aims to test the validity of PRWE in patients with RA. Method Seventy‐five patients with RA from a single outpatient clinic participated in the study. Patients filled out the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHOQ) and grip strength of both hands were measured. Patients filled out the PRWE questionnaire consecutively once for the dominant and once for the non‐dominant hand. Correlations between PRWE and MHOQ and grip strength scores were analyzed by Spearman's correlation method. Results Our results demonstrated that there was a very strong correlation between the PRWE and the MHOQ and a moderate correlation between the PRWE and grip strength (P < .001). PRWE also showed negative and fair correlation with grip strength of both hands (P < .001). Conclusions The Patient‐Rated Wrist Evaluation is a valid tool for evaluating wrist involvement in patients with RA. PRWE may be preferred in the busy clinical setting since it has simple and short questions. Additionally, it may provide a sensitive follow‐up tool for patients separately using its subscales of pain and function.

Similar to patients with RA, hand functions are significantly impaired in patients with SLE in daily activities.

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Aim Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology characterized by excessive collagen production, endothelial cell injury, microvascular obliteration, cutaneous fibrosis and progressive visceral disease. The hands are frequently involved during the progression of the disease, with symmetrical skin thickening as a prominent feature. Modified hand mobility in scleroderma (mHAMIS) test is a measurement method to assess hand mobility in patients with SSc. Knowing the inter‐rater reliability of the instrument is important in order for the results from different examiners to be accurately interpreted. The aim of this study was to test inter‐rater reliability of the mHAMIS test. Method Hand mobility for both hands was assessed in 25 female patients with SSc by 2 physiotherapists who have different years of experience. Patients who had flexion contracture in at least 1 finger and undergone hand surgery in the last year due to any injuries, were excluded from the study since hand mobility was prevented. Inter‐rater reliability was determined using intra‐class correlation coefficients (ICCs). Result The ICCs were excellent between raters for dominant and non‐dominant hands. The values were 0.92 and 0.93, respectively. Conclusion The inter‐rater reliability of the mHAMIS was found to be excellent. This research contributes to the literature by proving that the test can be used without causing bias in clinical trials.