title: The efficacy of self-administered stretching for finger joint motion in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy of self-administered stretching of each finger in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five patients with SSc (32 with diffuse cutaneous SSc and 13 with limited cutaneous SSc) were given instructions on self-administered stretching and were directed to perform it every day. Individual fingers were maintained in a stretched position using the opposite hand for 10 seconds and this was repeated 3-10 times. To evaluate the effect of the stretching program, finger passive range of motion (ROM) was assessed using a goniometer on the first visit and after 1 month and 1 year of the stretching program. The Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) was also assessed on the first visit and 1 year afterward.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total passive ROM was significantly improved in each finger after 1 month of finger stretching. The total passive ROM was further improved or maintained within 1 year after the first visit. Although ROM was less in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc than in those with limited cutaneous SSc at the first visit, ROM increased significantly irrespective of disease duration or severity of skin sclerosis. Finger stretching may improve the finger function, since the HAQ score for hand functions such as eating and gripping was significantly decreased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our original self-administered stretching program may be useful for improving finger joint motion in patients with SSc; future studies in various ethnic populations will be needed to determine the universal efficacy of this method.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Division of Rehabilitation Science, Kanazawa University Hospital, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Ishikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mugii
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Hidemitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Orito
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yanaba
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Komura
authors.forename: Ikuko
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: Yasuhito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hamaguchi
authors.forename: Munehiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikuta
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tachino
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takehara
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009068:Movement; D052580:Muscle Stretching Exercises / Q000379:methods*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D045743:Scleroderma, Diffuse / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D045745:Scleroderma, Limited / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome