ArticleRheumatology advances in practice2021
A mixed method study exploring patient satisfaction and feasibility of two exercise programmes in systemic sclerosis-associated microstomia.
Article in Rheumatology advances in practice, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 4 citations in OpenAlex.
- Oral and Periodontal Manifestations in Systemic Sclerosis: A Comprehensive Review of Pathophysiology, Clinical Features, and Management Strategies.Oral health & preventive dentistry · 2026Review
- Current Perspectives on Periodontitis in Systemic Sclerosis: Associative Relationships, Pathogenic Links, and Best Practices.Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Review
- Functional disability and health-related quality of life among systemic sclerosis patients in Bangladesh.BMC rheumatology · 2022Article
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveSSc often leads to fibrotic cutaneous involvement of the face and reduced oral aperture, with impaired food intake and oral hygiene. Oral exercises can increase oral aperture but are often hampered by low adherence rates. The aim of this mixed method study was to explore the feasibility, patient satisfaction and effectiveness of two exercise programmes in SSc-associated microstomia.
methodsAdult patients suffering from SSc and microstomia (maximal oral aperture <40 mm) were randomized to two groups. Group A exercised with a jaw motion device (Therabite), whereas group B performed mouth-stretching exercises. Patients were expected to exercise for 10 min, three times per day for 3 months. Patients were evaluated at baseline, 3 months (period without intervention), 6 months (after 3 months of intervention) and 9 months (post-intervention). At month 6, semi-structured one-to-one interviews were conducted.
resultsWe included six women and three men, median age 60 years and median disease duration 8 years. At 6 months, all patients in group A (
conclusionBoth interventions improved maximal oral aperture. The adherence to therapy was high, but none of the patients considered it feasible to continue practising three times per day. Future studies are needed in order to define feasible long-term exercise programmes.
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