The Rheumatology Department of USP Araba Sport Clinic deals with the study of connective tissue diseases and medical disruptions of the locomotive apparatus.

Our team of specialists carries out full assistance to those suffering from rheumatism and works in interdisciplinary fashion with doctors in other specialist areas, as well as other professionals who contribute to the treatment of these sufferers. The aim is to provide optimum physiotherapeutic and rehabilitating treatment applicable to rheumatism sufferers.

The professionals at USP Araba Sport Clinic are endowed with the latest pharmacological technology and equipment, in addition to up-to-date training in their field of knowledge which helps them to foresee and/or correct possible imbalances and to afford a better, healthier recovery for the patients involved.

In general:

• Arthrocentesis.

• Analysis of synovial liquid, including the identification of crystals.

• Bone puncture-aspiration.

• Needle biopsy of: synovial membrane; bone; skin; abdominal fat; muscle.

• Biopsy of lip and salivary gland.

• Capillaroscopy.

• Competence in the interpretation of the data provided by the image diagnostic techniques such as: simple radiology, bone densitometry, computerised axial tomography, nuclear magnetic resonance, ultrasound scan and radioisotopic gammagraphy.

• Infiltrations: intraarticular; periarticular; perineural; epidural

• Placement of joint ferrules and other orthesises.

• Chemical and/or radioisotopic synoviolisis

• Diagnostic arthroscopy

• Determination of immunoglobulins and complement components

• Determination of the rheumatoid factor

• Determination of antinuclear and anticytoplasmic antibodies by immunofluorescence

• Identification of antigenic specificities

• Determination of histocompatibility antigens

• Nephelometrics

• ELISA

• Flow cytometrics

• Electrophoresis

• Immunoblotting and cell cultures

• Molecular biology, PCR.

• Synovial, muscular, bone and renal biopsies.

• Electromyography

• Conduction velocity.

• Treatment of chronic pain, including anaesthetic blocks.

• Physical therapeutics

• Shimmer Test (eye dryness)

• Study of fresh synovial liquid

• Functional capacity, quality of life and psychometric tests

• Measurements of allodynia and hyperalgesia.

• Myofascial blocks

• Joint ferrules

• Joint protection exercises

• Labour regulations

The Rheumatology team of USP Araba Sport Clinic is made up of: in vitro techniques: