Toimintaterapiaan hoitomenetelmä alkuvaiheen systeemiseen skleroosiin

Occupational Therapy Treatment To Improve Upper Extremity Function In Individuals With Early Systemic Sclerosis: A Pilot Study

Murphy, S. L., Barber, M. W., Homer, K., Dodge, C., Cutter, G. R. & Khanna, D. 2018. Arthritis Care & Research, 70(11), 1653-1660. https://doi.org/10.1002/acr.23522

Objective: To determine feasibility and preliminary effects of an occupational therapy treatment to improve upper extremity (UE) function in patients with early systemic sclerosis (SSc) who have UE contractures.

Methods: A one-arm pilot clinical rehabilitation trial was conducted at a university health system. Participants with SSc and ≥ 1 UE contractures (N=21) participated in a total eight weekly in-person occupational therapy sessions. The therapy consisted of thermal modalities, tissue mobilization, and UE mobility. Between sessions, participants were instructed to complete UE home exercises. Feasibility was measured by present enrollment and session attendance and duration. The primary outcome measure was QuickDASH, secondary and exploratory outcomes included PROMIS physical function, objective UE measures, and skin thickening. Linear-mixed models were performed to determine treatment effects on primary and secondary outcomes.

Results: Fifty percent (24/48) of potentially eligible participants were interested. Of those, 88 % (21/24) enrolled: and 19 out of 21 (91%) completed the sessions. The mean (SD) age was 47,9 years (±16.1); 100 % had diffuse SSc, and mean disease duration was 3.1 years. At eight weeks, participants reported statistically significant improvement on QuickDash and PROMIS physical function measures (p=.0012 and p=.00). Forty – seven and 53 % percent of the sample achieved improvements that exceeded minimally important difference.

Conclusion: In-person treatment sessions were feasible for individuals with SSc and demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements on UE and physical function. Future studies need to examine effects against a control condition and examine durability of treatment effects.