Large Variability of Frequency and Type of Physical Therapy in Patients in the German Network for Systemic Sclerosis

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • D. Belz - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • P. Moinzadeh - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • G. Riemekasten - , Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein - Campus Lübeck (Author)
  • J. Henes - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • U. Müller-Ladner - , Justus Liebig University Giessen (Author)
  • N. Blank - , Heidelberg University  (Author)
  • I. Koetter - , Asklepios Clinic Altona (Author)
  • E. Siegert - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • C. Pfeiffer - , Ulm University (Author)
  • M. Schmalzing - , University of Würzburg (Author)
  • G. Zeidler - , Evangelical Clinics of Bonn (Author)
  • T. Schmeiser - , Krankenhaus St. Josef (Author)
  • M. Worm - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • C. Guenther - , Department of Dermatology (Author)
  • L. Susok - , Ruhr University Bochum (Author)
  • A. Kreuter - , Helios St. Elisabeth Clinic Oberhausen (Author)
  • C. Sunderkoetter - , University of Münster (Author)
  • A. Juche - , Fresenius AG (Author)
  • E. Aberer - , Medical University of Graz (Author)
  • N. Gaebelein-Wissing - , Helios University Hospital Wuppertal (Author)
  • A. Ramming - , Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg (Author)
  • K. Kuhr - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • N. Hunzelmann - , University of Cologne (Author)

Abstract

Objective: To determine the type and frequency of physical therapy (PT) prescribed by physicians for patients in the registry of the German Network for Systemic Sclerosis. Methods: The data for 4,252 patients were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and odds ratios (ORs). Results: Overall, 37.4% of patients (1,590 of 4,252) received PT at the end of a yearly follow-up. The most frequently used type of PT was lymphatic drainage (n = 1,061, 36.8%), followed by exercise therapy (n = 1,047, 36.3%) and heat therapy (n = 689, 23.9%). More than three-fourths of treated patients (82%) received 1 or 2 different forms of PT simultaneously. The prescription of PT was associated with the extent of skin fibrosis as measured by the modified Rodnan skin thickness score (<10 [41.8% of patients], 11–20 [55.8% of patients], and >21 [63.9% of patients]; P < 0.001). Patients with musculoskeletal involvement (e.g., arthritis, muscle weakness, joint contractures, tendon friction rubs) had a higher chance of receiving PT than patients without these symptoms, with corresponding ORs ranging from 1.96 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.69–2.28) for joint contractures to 3.83 (95% CI 2.89–5.08) for arthritis. When comparing the type of PT prescription across the initial and all follow-up visits from 2003 to 2017, significant alterations with a decreasing frequency of patients receiving PT could be observed (P = 0.001). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the use of PT in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) in a large cohort. Although SSc is characterized by considerable disability and restriction of motion, <40% of patients received PT.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1041-1048
Number of pages8
JournalArthritis Care and Research
Volume72
Issue number8
Publication statusPublished - 1 Aug 2020
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 31150152
ORCID /0000-0002-4330-1861/work/151982036

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