Biomechanical stimulation therapy. A novel physiotherapy method for systemic sclerosis.

To improve the mobility of joints, particularly of the finger joints and the mandibular joint, and to reduce the edema of the skin, various physical therapies have to be used in patients with SSc. As the quality of patients' life depends on the use of their fingers and of their mouth, these therapeutics belong to the basic measures in the treatment of SSc. In addition to the manually performed lymph drainage a new method, the biomechanical stimulation therapy, has proven to be efficacious to improve the mobility of the joints and to reduce the edema in SSc-patients.