[Longitudinal study on the locomotor function test in patients with rheumatoid arthritis].

With the help of a four-year observation of the course of rheumatoed arthritis in 100 patients the evidence of the locomotor functional test after Keitel is examined for the longitudinal research. The locomotor functional test proved depending on the actual activity and in a high percentage of patients showed considerable variations from year to year which were not parallel to the clinical and radiological progression. It is not sufficiently evident as the only criterion for the establishment of the progression of the disease. The locomotor functional test is well suited for the judgement of the success of therapy in short periods and the objectivation of the actual restriction of the function especially for questionings of experts. It is proposed to include the locomotor functional test into the criteria for the establishment of the degree of function.