Effect of Impairment-Oriented and Function-Oriented Exercises on Mouth Function in Subjects with Systemic Sclerosis

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Scleroderma can significantly impair oral functions, affecting quality of life.
• Maximal mouth opening, tongue protrusion, and tongue/lip strength are often compromised in scleroderma patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an exercise protocol for improving maximal mouth opening (MMO), tongue protrusion (Tprot), tongue strength (Tstren), and lip strength (Lstren) in individuals with scleroderma.
• To assess the efficacy of targeted orofacial exercises in mitigating functional deficits associated with scleroderma.

Main Methods:

• Four replicated single-system studies were conducted on a consecutive sample of scleroderma patients.
• Instrumented assessments were used to measure MMO, Tprot, Tstren, and Lstren.
• Patients underwent daily orofacial exercises, progressing from impairment-oriented to function-oriented approaches, guided by speech therapists.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in MMO, Tprot, Tstren, and Lstren following the exercise protocol.
• Post-treatment, several subjects achieved scores within the normal range for Tstren, Tprot, MMO, and Lstren.
• The protocol demonstrated measurable gains in key orofacial parameters.

Conclusions:

• The developed rehabilitation protocol is effective in improving oral motor function in scleroderma patients.
• Orofacial exercises can successfully reduce impairments related to tongue and lip function.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for enhancing the oral health and functional capabilities of individuals with scleroderma.