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European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine 2021 December;57(6):1036-44

DOI: 10.23736/S1973-9087.21.07121-5

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Evidence based position paper on Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine practice for people with muscular dystrophies

Milica LAZOVIC ^{1, 2} ✉, Dejan NIKOLIC ^{1, 3}, François C. BOYER ⁴, Kristian BORG ⁵, Maria G. CERAVOLO ⁶, Mauro ZAMPOLINI ⁷, Carlotte KIEKENS ⁸

¹ Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; ² Institute for Rehabilitation, Belgrade, Serbia; ³ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Children’s Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia; ⁴ PRM Department, Sebastopol Hospital, Reims Champagne Ardenne University, Reims, France; ⁵ Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; ⁶ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Neurorehabilitation Clinic, University Hospital of Ancona, Politecnica delle Marche University, Ancona, Italy; ⁷ Department of Rehabilitation, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Foligno, Perugia, Italy; ⁸ IRCCS Multimedica, Milan, Italy

Muscular dystrophies present a group of inherited degenerative disorder that are characterized by progressive muscular weakness. This evidence-based position paper represents the official position of the European Union through the UEMS PRM Section. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the role of the physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) physician and PRM practice for people with muscular dystrophies. A systematic review of the literature and a consensus procedure by means of a Delphi process have been performed involving the delegates of all European countries represented in the UEMS PRM Section. The systematic literature review is reported together with thirty-three recommendations resulting from the Delphi procedure. The role of the PRM physician is to assess the functional status of persons with muscular dystrophy and to plan, monitor and lead PRM program in an interdisciplinary setting within a multiprofessional team.

KEY WORDS: Muscular dystrophies; Rehabilitation; Consensus