Neuromuscular facilitation in proprioceptive juvenile dermatomyositis: a case report

Abstract

Introduction : Juvenile dermatomyositis (DM) is an inflammatory muscle disease of unknown etiology, autoimmune disorder, which manifests itself in small blood vessels of the muscles and skin. The incidence varies between 0.8 and 4.1 per million children born each year with a prevalence of females. Five criteria are considered for diagnosis: progressive proximal symmetrical weakness, elevated muscle enzymes, abnormal electromyogram and inflammatory pattern in the muscle biopsy sample, and association with cutaneous disorders. OBJECTIVE: To report the Neuromuscular Facilitation Proprioceptive (PFN) procedure in a case of juvenile DM. METHODS: We evaluated a female patient, nine years old, with part of JDM, who manifested: muscle weakness, difficulty in daily activities and frequent falls. She attended the out patient service at our Hospital Three evaluations were performed before (AV-1), during (AV-2) and after (AV-3) to physiotherapy intervention. After the first evaluation, a treatment was applied in 24 sessions over 12 weeks, lasting an hour each, which consisted of Neuromuscular Facilitation proprioceptive (FNP) with stimulating techniques of stretching and slow reversals in diagonal primitive and functional as well as associated stretching. RESULTS: Increased muscle strength in lower limbs, reduction of contractures, gain range of motion and better quality of life for the patient. CONCLUSION: Considering the above results, longitudinal studies are required to prove efficacy in long-term.