The effects of cognitive exercise therapy approach on muscle strength, functionality and biopsycosocial status in individuals with systemic sclerosis

The aim of this study to examine the effects of Cognitive Exercise Therapy Approach on muscle strength, functionality and biopsychosocial status in individuals with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Individuals with SSc were divided into two groups as those who continued their clinical treatments and those who participated in BETY exercise sessions with their clinical treatments. Modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) was recorded for the evaluation of disease activity. Knee joint with Biodex System Pro3 for muscle strength, Modified Hand Mobility in Scleroderma (mHAMIS), Duruoz Hand Index (DHI) and Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (SHAQ) for functionality. Cognitive Exercise Therapy Approach-Biopsychosocial Scale (Bilişsel Egzersiz Terapi Yaklaşımı-Biopsychosocial Questionnaire (BETY-BQ)), Short Form-36 (SF-36) and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS) were used for biopsychosocial status. Group 1 (n=20) participated in BETY exercise sessions regularly 3 days a week for 12 weeks with their clinical treatments, while Group 2 (n=17) didn't get the exercise sessions. All assessments were repeated at the end of 12 weeks for both groups. The results revealed that improvements were observed in all parameters on muscle strength, functionality and biopsychosocial status in favor of individuals participating in BETY exercise sessions compared to routine clinical treatment (p<0.05). The results emphasized that the positive effects of BETY exercise training on the muscle strength, functional and biopsychosocial status of individuals in SSc, which is a rare disease. This result was interpreted as the contribution of BETY as a named, standardized exercise model to the universal literature on SSc and exercise effects. It was considered to investigate the follow-up results with different objective criteria by increasing the number of individuals in the study.