Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Physical Therapy in Systemic Sclerosis: The Patient Perspective
Authors' conclusion
We observed a significant variation in the use and content of PT for SSc patients in a primary care setting.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) fulfilling American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/EULAR 2013 criteria, treated in the Leiden University Medical Center multidisciplinary care program204 completed
- Participants
- 405 patients
- Outcome
- Use, satisfaction, needs and preferences regarding PT
- Follow-up
- 2-year period
Methodological detailsquestionnaire survey, single-centre
- Questionnaire survey
- Single-centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Used or using physical therapy (PT) in primary care
- 128 (63%)
- Lack of referral or knowledge as reason for non-use (patients not using PT)
- 39%
- Muscle-strengthening exercises
- n = 92 [72%]
- Range of motion exercises
- n = 77 [60%]
- Aerobic exercises
- n = 72 [56%]
- SSc-specific hand exercises
- 20 (15%)
- SSc-specific mouth-opening exercises
- 7 (6%)
- Manual treatment (massage or passive mobilization)
- 83 (65%)
- Satisfaction score (range 0-10), mean ± SD
- 8.2 ± 1.6
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Needs and preferences for PT
- Wanted more information on PT
- 96 (47%)
- Wanted to continue, start or restart PT
- 128 (63%)
- Favoring continuous individual treatment (of 128)
- 56 (44%)
Original publication
Physical Therapy in Systemic Sclerosis: The Patient Perspective. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 27 August 2022. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →