Musculoskeletal rehabilitation in the person with scleroderma.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this review is to examine current evidence for the efficacy of rehabilitation techniques for musculoskeletal impairments in persons with scleroderma.


RESULTS
The current literature on rehabilitation techniques consists of studies evaluating the effectiveness of paraffin wax treatment, hand and face stretching exercises, connective tissue massage and joint manipulation, splints, and aerobic exercise and resistance training. Only four randomized controlled trials were found and except for those studies, the majority of studies involved small sample sizes and no control groups. However, except for splints, these studies show improvement in joint motion, hand function, and cardiopulmonary endurance.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the results from these small studies are promising, larger, randomized controlled studies are needed to fully determine the effectiveness of rehabilitation techniques for persons with scleroderma.
Poole
Janet L
JL
Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0001, USA. jpoole@salud.unm.edu
D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008405:Massage; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome