Comparison of the effects of the supervised exercise program and home exercise program in patients with systemic sclerosis

Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the effects of the supervised exercise and home exercise program in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods: Thirty-seven SSc patients were included in the study. Patients with SSc were allocated in two groups as supervised and home exercise. Breathing, strengthening and aerobic exercises was performed with a physiotherapist for 12 weeks in the supervised exercise group. Breathing, posture and aerobic exercises was given to the home exercise group as a home program for 12 weeks. All patients were assessed at baseline and 12 weeks later in terms of pulmonary functions, respiratory-peripheral muscle strength, dyspnea severity, exercise capacity, health-related quality of life and fatigue level. Results: Both groups were showed increase in expiratory muscle strength, exercise capacity, knee extension strength, health-related quality of life and decrease in fatigue level(p<0.05). The supervised exercise was found superior to the home exercise for improving these parameters (p<0.05). There was increase in pulmonary functions, inspiratory muscle strength, hand grip strength and decrease in the dyspnea severity in the supervised exercise group (p<0.05), but there was no difference in these parameters in the home exercise group (p>0.05). Conclusion: Both exercise programs improve the pulmonary functions, exercise capacity, respiratory-peripheral muscle strength and health-related quality of life of patients with SSc. However, the gains obtained with a supervised exercise are higher than home exercise program. Our study shows that supervised and home exercise programs are effective and should be applied in addition to the medical treatments of SSc patients.