Rehabilitation of the face and temporomandibular joint in systemic sclerosis.

Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) alterations of the face and of the mouth cause aesthetic modifications and disability, impairing self-esteem and quality of life (QoL). The aim of this study was to verify the effects of two rehabilitation protocols on facial mimic and mouth opening.

Methods: A total of 47 SSc patients (40 females and 7 males, mean age ± SD 59.

A comparison of two podiatric protocols for metatarsalgia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Objectives: In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) forefoot involvement causes disability and metatarsalgia. Our objective was to evaluate, in RA and OA patients, the efficacy of two protocols combining insoles in polypropylene terephtalate (PPT) and custom silicone orthoses for toes on disability and metatarsalgia.

Methods: Twenty-four women (13 with OA, 11 with RA) with metatarsalgia were treated with two protocols: group A (protocol A) wore PPT insoles (T1) for 30 days and for another 30 days silicone orthosis for toes were added (T2).