A Feasibility Study in Preparation for a Future Randomized Controlled Trial Designed to Assess the Intervention of Open Focus Joint-Space Therapy for Improving Physiological Outcomes Among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

Abstract

Ten women in the US, Canada, and Australia, between the ages of 30-73, and diagnosed with RA participated in a 7-week virtual study. The hypothesis was that Open Focus Joint Space Therapy could positively affect improved functional mobility/physical function, and pain reduction for patients suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

Nine of the 10-total participants showed improved functional and RAPID 3 scores on Multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaires (MDHAQ) between the baselines and follow-up week, as well as improvements reflected on Health Assessment Questionnaires (HAQ-II) ending weeks 1, 3, and 5. Although minimal, Descriptive Statistics determined improvement variability among subjects for pain and quality-of-life assessments. Significance levels compared to the general population were assessed at 0.05, with a Confidence level = .95, yielding no significance, and overall acceptance of a null hypothesis.

The conclusion is that the statistical data indicating no significance and acceptance of the null hypothesis resulted because of the small sample size. The study’s aim was 50% participant improvements assessed via Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) reflected in the MDHAQs and HAQ-IIs. This trial reflected functionality and pain reduction improvements for 90% of participants.

The study, therefore, determines that potential controlled studies with larger sample groups to further verify the ability of OFJST to affect improved functionality/physical function and pain reduction for people with RA would be in the interest of future research.