Stumbling, struggling and shame
According to HSPers, treatment for spasticity should have more emphasis on:
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reducing pain and fatigue
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improving night-time rest and general well-being
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improving performance of activities to help maintain social participation
More practical support is needed for people with chronic spasticity for physical activities and social participation.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Little is known concerning the impact of chronic spasticity on physical activities, social participation, and well-being, and whether patients’ needs are addressed by current treatments. This study aims to investigate these lacunas in persons with a pure form of hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) in whom spasticity is a prominent symptom.
METHODS: Fourteen patients with a pure form of HSP were interviewed. These interviews were recorded, verbally transcribed, and thematically analyzed.
RESULTS: Four themes were identified which can be reflected by the phrases: (1) ‘I stumble’, (2) ‘I struggle’, (3) ‘I feel ashamed’, and (4) ‘I need support’. Balance and gait problems led to limitations in domestic activities, employment, and recreation. ‘Stumbling’ also occurred due to pain, stiffness, and fatigue. Struggling was related to the continuous need for adaptation strategies, including the abandonment of some activities. Participants further reported feelings of shame, fear, and frustration. Lastly, they needed more support in daily activities than currently provided.
CONCLUSION: Besides treating spasticity-related motor impairments, patients with HSP need practical support for optimizing their physical activities and social participation. They also seek attention for the non-motor consequences of their chronic spasticity to improve their well-being. Patient-reported outcomes might help to address these needs.
Implications for rehabilitation: According to patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia, interventions for spasticity should not only be aimed at reducing motor impairments, but also on reducing pain and fatigue, improving nighttime rest and general well-being, and optimizing the performance of relevant personal activities. Medical, role and emotional management in patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia can be improved only when individual needs are identified and monitored over the course of the disease. Besides assessment of bodily functions and physical capacities, systematic evaluation of patient-reported outcomes will help both patients and professionals to monitor the functional impact of disease progression and to evaluate the effects of interventions aimed at retarding this progression.
SOURCE: Disabil Rehabil. 2019 May 13:1-8. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1610084. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 31079503
Stumbling, struggling, and shame due to spasticity: a qualitative study of adult persons with hereditary spastic paraplegia.
Kerstens HCJW1,2, Satink T2, Nijkrake MJ3, De Swart BJM2,3, Van Lith BJH3, Geurts ACH3, Nijhuis-van der Sanden MWG1,3.
1 a Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, IQ Healthcare , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.
2 b HAN University of Applied Sciences , Nijmegen , The Netherlands.
3 c Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Rehabilitation, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.