Physiotherapy and patients with osteogenesis imperfecta: an experience report

Authors

  • Carmem Lia Martins Moreira
  • Ana Cristina Bohrer Gilbert
  • Maria Angélica de Faria Domingues Lima
  • Maria Helena Cabral de Almeida Cardoso
  • Juan Clinton Llerena Jr

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-5150.028.002.AO11

Abstract

Introduction: Individuals with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) have bone fragility and osteopenia which cause fractures, mobility restriction and pain. Objective: This article examines a physiotherapy experience with people diagnosed with OI in an OI reference center of Rio de Janeiro. Materials and methods: This was an exploratory qualitative study, based on field notes related to physiotherapy care to 92 patients of both genders with clinical diagnoses of OI, aged between 30 days and 37 years old, during the period 2004–2008. The analysis comprised a reading of the field notes as a corpus, considering them as a means of understanding the subjects’ perspectives. Two different forms of codification were applied — open and focused — followed by semiotic analysis techniques. Results: Early encouragement to perform active movements within a safe environment, or even after fractures, reduced articular contractures and enhanced muscular tonus; physiotherapy manipulation facilitated the integration of body perception in relation to movements and responses to tactilekinesthetic-vestibular stimuli; promoting family involvement, by adopting practical solutions adapted to each patient’s reality, contributed to reduce fear of fractures and allowed the construction of a new functional image. Conclusion: Physiotherapy assessment and treatment should be based not only on clinical and neurofunctional elements and technical strategies, but also on a dialogue that includes the multiple dimensions of the patients and their family members, in order to engage them in a learning process to stimulate potentials, abilities and competences.

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Published

2017-09-20

How to Cite

Martins Moreira, C. L., Bohrer Gilbert, A. C., Domingues Lima, M. A. de F., de Almeida Cardoso, M. H. C., & Llerena Jr, J. C. (2017). Physiotherapy and patients with osteogenesis imperfecta: an experience report. Fisioterapia Em Movimento (Physical Therapy in Movement), 28(2). https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-5150.028.002.AO11

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Section

Original Article