Short-Term Pulmonary Rehabilitation for a Female Patient with Chronic Scleroderma under a Single-Case Research Design

Clinical Medicine Insights: Circulatory, Respiratory and Pulmonary Medicine

Case Report

Jirakrit Leelarungrayub¹  Khanittha Wonglangka¹  Decha Pinkaew¹  Jakkrit Klaphajone²  Wichai Eungpinichpong³ 

[1] Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.;Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.;Research Center in Back, Neck, Other Joint Pain and Human Performance, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.;

关键词: chest physical therapy;    rehabilitation;    scleroderma;    single case research design;   

DOI  :  10.4137/CCRPM.S40050

 received in 2016-08-29, accepted in 2016-08-10,  发布年份 2016

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

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 Breath Max® 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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY-NC   
© 2016 SAGE Publications.

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