Occupational therapy integrated with a self-administered stretching programme on systemic sclerosis patients with hand involvement

Objective. To evaluate the effect of occupational therapy (OT) intervention, integrated with a self-administered stretching programme on the hands of patients with SSc, after one and three months of treatment. Methods. We enrolled 31 patients with SSc, randomly allocated to the occupational group (15 patients) or to the control group (16 patients). Each patient received specific outcome measures: Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), HAQ, Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Duruoz Hand Index (DHI), reassessed after 1 (T1) and three months (T2). Results. At T1 and T2 we found a statistically significant improvement from baseline values of COPM Performance and COPM Satisfaction in the OT group compared to baseline. At T2 HAQ values and Mental SF36 were also significantly improved. In the control group we found a statistically significant improvement of HAQ values and Mental SF36 at T1, confirmed at T2. COPM Performance was also significantly improved. The comparison between the two groups showed a greater improvement in the OT group concerning COPM Performance at T1 and T2. Mental SF-36 score greater improved in the control group at T1. Conclusion. Our results indicate that a rehabilitation programme including OT and self-administered stretching exercises may be effective to improve and maintain hand function in patients with SSc.