Expanding the Treatment Team: What Is the Role for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Wound Care, and Nutritional Support in Systemic Sclerosis?

Tracy M Frech; Janet L Poole; Maureen Murtaugh; Marco Matucci-Cerinic

doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2023.01.009

Expanding the Treatment Team: What Is the Role for Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Wound Care, and Nutritional Support in Systemic Sclerosis?

Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2023 May;49(2):377-387. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2023.01.009. Epub 2023 Mar 1.

Authors

Tracy M Frech¹, Janet L Poole², Maureen Murtaugh³, Marco Matucci-Cerinic⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Occupational Therapy Graduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
⁴ Division of Rheumatology and Scleroderma Unit, AOU Careggi, Florence and Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Italy.

PMID: 37028841
DOI: 10.1016/j.rdc.2023.01.009

Abstract

The optimal systemic sclerosis (SSc) care plan includes an occupational therapist and physical therapist as well as wound care experts and a registered dietitian if indicated. Screening instruments for functional and work disability, hand and mouth limitations, malnutrition, and dietary intake can identify the need for ancillary support services. Telemedicine can assist in developing effective ancillary treatment plans. Reimbursement for services may limit access for patients with SSc to expand their care team but a focus on prevention rather than management of damage is recognized as an important unmet need in SSc. In this review, the role of a comprehensive care team for SSc is discussed.

Keywords: Nutrition; Occupational therapy; Physical therapy; Systemic sclerosis; Wound care.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Humans
Malnutrition* / diagnosis
Malnutrition* / therapy
Nutritional Support
Occupational Therapy*
Physical Therapy Modalities
Scleroderma, Systemic* / therapy