title: Short-Term Pulmonary Rehabilitation for a Female Patient with Chronic Scleroderma under a Single-Case Research Design.
abstract: Although previously proposed that chronic scleroderma should be cared for clinically and early rehabilitation should be performed in hospital by a chest physical therapist, little evidence is currently available on its benefits. Therefore, this study demonstrated the benefits of short-term pulmonary rehabilitation during hospitalization in a female patient with chronic scleroderma. The aim of rehabilitation was to improve ventilation and gas exchange by using airway clearance, chest mobilization, and breathing-relearning techniques, including strengthening the respiratory system and the muscles of the limbs by using the BreathMax®device and elastic bands. Gross motor function and activities of daily life were regained by balancing, sitting, and standing practices. Data on minimal chest expansion, high dyspnea, high respiratory rate, and low maximal inspiratory mouth pressure were recorded seven days before rehabilitation or at the baseline period. But there was a clinically significant improvement in dyspnea, chest expansion, maximal inspiratory mouth pressure, and respiratory rate, when compared to baseline data, which were recorded by a chest physical therapist during seven days of rehabilitation. Furthermore, physicians decided to stop using a mechanical ventilator, and improvement in functional capacity was noted. Therefore, in the case of chronic and stable scleroderma, short-term rehabilitation during hospitalization for chest physical therapy possibly shows clinical benefits by improving both pulmonary function and physical performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jirakrit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leelarungrayub
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Decha
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pinkaew
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Khanittha
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wonglangka
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Back, Neck, Other Joint Pain and Human Performance, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
authors.forename: Wichai
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eungpinichpong
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
authors.forename: Jakkrit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klaphajone
keywords: chest physical therapy; rehabilitation; scleroderma; single case research design