Effectiveness of a Home-based, Self-administered Exercise Program for Hands in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

Rehabilitation Clinical Trial

Official title:

Effectiveness of a Home-based, Self-administered Exercise Program for Hands in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis: a Randomized Controlled, Single-blind, Clinical Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT04481984
• Other study ID #: Cukurova Uni. Neslihan G.
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: July 15, 2016
• Est. completion date: June 5, 2019

Study information

• Verified date: July 2020
• Source: Cukurova University
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Hand involvement is one of the most observed musculoskeletal involvements in patients with SSc, which can impact on general health, quality of life, and psychological status. Hand exercise programs can help patients to improve not only hand function but also general health status; nevertheless, further randomized control trials (RCTs) are needed to clarify its effect. Hence, the investigators aimed to investigate the effectiveness of home-based, self-administered exercise program for hands in patients with SSc and demonstrate the improvements in general health status.

Description:

The current study was designed as a single-blind, prospective, randomized controlled, comparative study with a 2-month follow-up period, conducted in a rheumatology outpatient clinic of a university hospital, between July 2016-June 2019. Female patients with SSc who fulfilled the 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for systemic sclerosis were included in the study. Patients with neurological disorders, arthritis, myositis, amputation of fingers, serious contracture resisting handgrip, and history of undergoing hand surgery were excluded from the study. Patients were enrolled in the study after they signed the written informed consent. Following the assessment of patients in terms of eligibility, patients were randomized into an exercise and a control group. The computerized block randomization method was used to randomize subjects into groups. Both groups were informed about systemic sclerosis and they received the printed materials that include recommendations such as avoiding cold and trauma. The treatment group participated in a single hand exercise training (isometric hand exercise and self-administered stretching) applied by a physiatrist. They additionally received the printable instructions for exercises. Compliance was assessed by a checklist, which included all information on how to exercise and how many times to do them. The investigators aimed to investigate the impact of hand exercise program on hand function and demonstrate its influence on health status, quality of life, and psychological status of patients with SSc.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 50
• Est. completion date: June 5, 2019
• Est. primary completion date: June 5, 2019
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: Female
• Age group: 18 Years to 75 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Female systemic sclerosis patients who fulfilled the 2013 ACR/EULAR classification criteria for systemic sclerosis

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with neurological disorders,

• Arthritis,

• Myositis,

• Amputation of fingers,

• Serious contracture resisting hand grip

• History of undergoing hand surgery

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Hand Rheumatism
• Rehabilitation
• Rheumatic Diseases
• Scleroderma
• Scleroderma, Diffuse
• Scleroderma, Systemic
• Sclerosis
• Systemic Sclerosis

Intervention

Other:
• Home-based Hand exercise
Isometric exercise; patients squeezed a hand exercise ball for 60 seconds. This exercise repeated 15-times/3 set per day. Stretching exercises; self-administered stretching exercises were as follows; i) forearm supination and pronation, ii) wrist flexion and extension, iii) finger flexion, extension, and abduction iv) thumb flexion, extension, and abduction. These exercises repeated 10-times/2 set per day.
• Care advice
Patients received care advice including avoiding cold exposure and trauma.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Turkey	Cukurova University	Adana	Saricam

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Cukurova University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Turkey, 

References & Publications (8)

Landim SF, Bertolo MB, Marcatto de Abreu MF, Del Rio AP, Mazon CC, Marques-Neto JF, Poole JL, de Paiva Magalhães E. The evaluation of a home-based program for hands in patients with systemic sclerosis. J Hand Ther. 2019 Jul - Sep;32(3):313-321. doi: 10.1016/j.jht.2017.10.013. Epub 2017 Dec 1. — View Citation

Liem SIE, Vliet Vlieland TPM, Schoones JW, de Vries-Bouwstra JK. The effect and safety of exercise therapy in patients with systemic sclerosis: a systematic review. Rheumatol Adv Pract. 2019 Dec 9;3(2):rkz044. doi: 10.1093/rap/rkz044. eCollection 2019. Review. — View Citation

Mugii N, Hasegawa M, Matsushita T, Kondo M, Orito H, Yanaba K, Komura K, Hayakawa I, Hamaguchi Y, Ikuta M, Tachino K, Fujimoto M, Takehara K, Sato S. The efficacy of self-administered stretching for finger joint motion in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis. J Rheumatol. 2006 Aug;33(8):1586-92. — View Citation

Piga M, Tradori I, Pani D, Barabino G, Dessì A, Raffo L, Mathieu A. Telemedicine applied to kinesiotherapy for hand dysfunction in patients with systemic sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis: recovery of movement and telemonitoring technology. J Rheumatol. 2014 Jul;41(7):1324-33. doi: 10.3899/jrheum.130912. Epub 2014 Jun 1. — View Citation

Rannou F, Boutron I, Mouthon L, Sanchez K, Tiffreau V, Hachulla E, Thoumie P, Cabane J, Chatelus E, Sibilia J, Roren A, Berezne A, Baron G, Porcher R, Guillevin L, Ravaud P, Poiraudeau S. Personalized Physical Therapy Versus Usual Care for Patients With Systemic Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2017 Jul;69(7):1050-1059. doi: 10.1002/acr.23098. Epub 2017 Jun 7. — View Citation

Schouffoer AA, Ninaber MK, Beaart-van de Voorde LJ, van der Giesen FJ, de Jong Z, Stolk J, Voskuyl AE, Scherptong RW, van Laar JM, Schuerwegh AJ, Huizinga TW, Vlieland TP. Randomized comparison of a multidisciplinary team care program with usual care in patients with systemic sclerosis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2011 Jun;63(6):909-17. doi: 10.1002/acr.20448. — View Citation

Stefanantoni K, Sciarra I, Iannace N, Vasile M, Caucci M, Sili Scavalli A, Massimiani MP, Passi L, Maset L, Riccieri V. Occupational therapy integrated with a self-administered stretching program on systemic sclerosis patients with hand involvement. Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2016 Sep-Oct;34 Suppl 100(5):157-161. Epub 2016 Apr 14. — View Citation

Vannajak K, Boonprakob Y, Eungpinichpong W, Ungpansattawong S, Nanagara R. The short-term effect of gloving in combination with Traditional Thai Massage, heat, and stretching exercise to improve hand mobility in scleroderma patients. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2014 Jan;5(1):50-5. doi: 10.4103/0975-9476.128859. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Handgrip strength	Handgrip strength was measured by hydraulic hand dynamometer (JAMAR®,USA) according to the standard protocol, which calculates the average of three consecutive measurements of the dominant hand. The measurements were recorded as kilograms (kg).	Before treatment to 8 weeks
Secondary	Duruoz Hand Index	Duruoz Hand Index (DHI) is the 18-item questionnaire assessing hand skill in the kitchen, during dressing, while performing personal hygiene, while performing office tasks, and other general performances. Each item is rated from 0 (no difficulty) to 5 (impossible to do). The sum of the scores varies between 0 and 90. Higher scores indicate the impaired hand function.	Before treatment to 8 weeks