Deviation in the recovery of the lower limb and respiratory muscles of patients with polymyositis: a preliminary clinical study

Abstract

[Purpose] The purposes of this study were to quantify the serial changes in lower limb and respiratory muscle strengths and to evaluate the acute effects of physiotherapy in polymyositis patients. [Subjects and Methods] Five patients (57.6 ± 9.0 years, 50 to 72; four females) received physiotherapy five days a week for four weeks. The lower limb and respiratory muscle strength, the % vital capacity, and the Barthel index were evaluated at baseline and after the intervention. [Results] The patient’s symptoms and creatine kinase values did not change, and after four weeks, all of the patients exhibited significantly increased outcomes compared with the baseline. However, the inspiratory muscle strength of the patients presented smaller improvements than the expiratory muscle strength. [Conclusion] Differential changes in inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength were observed following physiotherapy, and an unbalanced muscle distribution may explain the pathological and therapeutic effects.

Physical therapy for a patient with neuromyelitis optica during the acute phase: A case report

“…Nevertheless, intensive physical therapy has recently been shown to have positive effects in patients with inflammatory myopathies. 7,8 This study showed that a physical therapy program did not exacerbate symptoms in a patient with NMO when performed cautiously based on the patient's degree of subjective fatigue and muscle pain. Therefore, we consider that a carefully supervised physical therapy program can be applied safely and effectively in patients with NMO, as well as in patients with inflammatory myopathies 7,8 and neuromuscular disorders.…”

“…7,8 This study showed that a physical therapy program did not exacerbate symptoms in a patient with NMO when performed cautiously based on the patient's degree of subjective fatigue and muscle pain. Therefore, we consider that a carefully supervised physical therapy program can be applied safely and effectively in patients with NMO, as well as in patients with inflammatory myopathies 7,8 and neuromuscular disorders. 9 In most cases of NMO, treatment in the acute phase does not involve physical therapy until medical treatment has been completed.…”

“… 10 – 12 In recent studies, early physical therapy with medication resulted in effective physical outcomes in patients with several diseases, as long as the therapy was performed cautiously and was supervised by a medical doctor and/or physical therapist. 7 , 13 Therefore, starting physical therapy during the acute phase may also be important in patients with NMO. However, there are no reports on physical therapy in patients with NMO in the acute phase.…”