Functional outcome in a patient with an acute quadriparesis secondary to systemic sclerosis: a case report

Scleroderma or systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a relatively uncommon disease. Although well-known for many years, research on appropriate physical therapy during all stages of myositis due to scleroderma is limited. We report the functional outcome in a patient with an acute quadriparesis secondary to diffuse SSc associated with extensive myositis. This 35-year-old black woman progressed to almost complete functional recovery in the course of 16 days of acute rehabilitation with combined physical therapy including resistive exercises. This case strongly suggests that a patient with diffuse SSc and associated myositis can undergo aggressive physical therapy in a monitored environment with good functional improvement and no worsening of the myositis.