Second Place Winner

Objective: The case study assessed the affects of massage therapy on QOL through decreasing pain and increasing proprioception, strength, and active range of motion (AROM) in a client with facioscapuloumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHMD). The primary outcome of improving QOL in persons with MD is to enhance functional activities of daily living (ADL) by decreasing pain and increasing strength and ROM in the upper extremity. Secondary outcomes may include increasing proprioception and endurance. Methods: Ten treatments were performed that lasted from 60-75 minutes in duration, 3x/week in a period of 4 weeks. The treatment approach used a variety of techniques such as neuromuscular techniques (i.e.. PNF), myofascial release, and swedish techniques. Results: When referring to the baseline measurements of QOL the clinical outcomes are based on the client‟s journal, measurement of strength, and improved functional ADL. Before the case study, the client was unable to walk for more than five minutes or even stand for prolonged periods of time without pain or becoming fatigued. After the third and fourth treatment, the client reported a decrease in musculoskeletal pain, an increase in endurance and improvement in posture and proprioception. In Treatment 3 there was a flicker of movement in the left hand during finger and wrist extension. This may suggest that massage therapy contributes to establishing neuromuscular connections and perhaps increase AROM with further treatments using PNF patterning. With Treatment 6, the client received iliopsoas work to increase her swing phase in walking gait. She reported a significant bowel movement 45 minutes post treatment and decreased hypertonicity in the hips. This may suggest that massage therapy may be helpful with improving digestive function. The QOL has improved A U T H O R : A N D R E A S M I T H [email protected] How Massage Therapy Can Improve Quality of Life in Persons with Muscular Dystrophy O C T O B E R 2 0 1 0 A N D R E A S M I T H C A S E R E P O R T S U P E R V I S O R : R A N D Y P E R S A D , R M T UTOPIA ACADEMY OF MASSAGE THERAPY 220-181 Keefer Place Vancouver, BC V6B 6C1 Phone 604.681.4450 O C T O B E R 2 0 1 0 A N D R E A S M I T H significantly in the 10 treatments concerning functional activities of daily living. Massage therapy may improve QOL through decreasing pain, increasing respiratory and digestive functions, strength and endurance. Conclusion: Over time, massage therapy may lead to a decrease the use of corticosteroids, aid in functional scar formation post surgery and may improve AROM in person‟s with FSHMD if further research is pursued. Clinical trials have suggested that “symptom improvement may be an important end point in itself” even if there is no difference in treatment outcome (Frost 2002) . Though the notion of QOL is given verbal support, more research is needed to improve the integration of QOL in a healthcare setting and massage therapy may be an integral component as a complementary therapy along with traditional management of FSHMD.