Rheumatology, Vol 38, 608-611, Copyright © 1999 by British Society for Rheumatology
H Alexanderson, CH Stenstrom and I Lundberg
OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether a home exercise programme could safely
be performed by patients with stable, inactive polymyositis (PM) and
dermatomyositis (DM), regarding disease activity, muscle function, health
status and pain. METHODS: Ten patients with reduced muscle function
completed the study. A home exercise programme including exercises for
strength in the upper and lower limbs, neck and trunk, for mobility in the
upper limbs and moderate stretching was developed. The patients exercised
for 15 min and took a 15 min walk 5 days a week during a 12 week period.
Assessments included clinical evaluation of disease activity, serum
creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of
the quadriceps, repeated muscle biopsy of the vastus lateralis, a muscle
function index (FI), a walking test and a health status instrument (the SF
36) performed at the start of the study and after 12 weeks. RESULTS: After
12 weeks of exercise, there were no signs of increased disease activity as
assessed clinically, by CPK values, MRI or muscle biopsy findings. On an
individual basis, all patients improved regarding muscle function according
to the FI, in six cases the improvement reached statistical significance (P
< 0.05). A significant improvement regarding muscle function in the
upper and lower limbs, walking distance and general health status was
achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that this home exercise
programme can be safely employed in patients with stable, inactive PM and
DM, with beneficial effects on muscle function.
ORIGINAL PAPERS
Safety of a home exercise programme in patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis: a pilot study
Department of Physical Therapy, Karolinska Hospital, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
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