An individualized rehabilitation program in patients with systemic sclerosis may improve quality of life and hand mobility

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Abstract
Few data are available to assess the efficacy of rehabilitative interventions in systemic sclerosis (SSc). We refer here the results of an individualized rehabilitation program in 16 patients with SSc. In particular, when possible, the number of patients who achieved a minimal clinically important difference (MCID) was determined. Results were evaluated taking advantage of the development of validated questionnaires and tests to assess quality of life (QOL) and disability in SSc. At the end of a period of 4 months of observation, 69% and 62% of patients reported an improvement of the physical and mental components of the SF-36 higher than the MCID (as established in other rheumatic conditions). Analogously, an improvement of the impact of respiratory disease on patients’ QOL, as assessed by the Saint George’s Respiratory Questionnaire, was perceived by 67% of them. These results might be explained by better exercise tolerance, which was suggested by the significant reduction of the heart rate and of a visual analogue scale for dyspnoea at the end of the 6-min walking test. Finally, a statistically significant improvement of hand mobility, as assessed by the hand mobility in scleroderma test was obtained. This study suggests that a significant proportion of patients with SSc experience an improvement in their perception of QOL, a better exercise tolerance, and a better hand mobility after a rehabilitation program consisting by a 2-week period of daily individual 30-min sessions as outpatient, followed by at-home exercise program.