IMR Press / FBL / Volume 27 / Issue 6 / DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2706179
Open Access Original Research
Physical Therapy and Nusinersen Impact on Spinal Muscular Atrophy Rehabilitative Outcome
Andrada Mirea1,2,†Madalina Cristina Leanca1,2,*,†Gelu Onose1,3,†Corina Sporea1,2,*,†Liliana Padure1,2,†Elena-Silvia Shelby2,†Vlad Dima4,†Cristina Daia1,3,†
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1 University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila”, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
2 National Teaching Center for Children’s Neurorehabilitation “Dr. Nicolae Robanescu”, 041408 Bucharest, Romania
3 Teaching Emergency Hospital “Bagdasar-Arseni”, 041915 Bucharest, Romania
4 Clinical Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology “Filantropia”, 011132 Bucharest, Romania
*Correspondence: mada_mada332@yahoo.com (Madalina Cristina Leanca); corina.sporea@gmail.com (Corina Sporea)
These authors contributed equally.
Academic Editor: Amedeo Amedei
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2022, 27(6), 179; https://doi.org/10.31083/j.fbl2706179
Submitted: 15 March 2022 | Revised: 28 March 2022 | Accepted: 8 April 2022 | Published: 6 June 2022
Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.
This is an open access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Abstract

Introduction: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a progressive neurological disease with autosomal recessive transmission that affects motor neurons, causing their loss and resulting in muscle waste and motor deficiency. Nusinersen, the first SMN2 pre-mRNA targeted therapy approved by the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency, has demonstrated high efficacy in improving motor function, as well as respiratory and nutritional statuses. Materials and Methods: We observed 55 patients (children/adolescents) diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), who received nusinersen therapy. To investigate the benefits of physical therapy on rehabilitation outcomes, we compared the motor evolution of patients who received nusinersen and performed daily physical therapy (study group) to those of the control group, who received only nusinersen therapy. Results: Motor skill improvements were statistically significantly (p < 0.001) higher in the study group, being almost four times better (12.66%), effect size, in comparison to the control group (3.18%). Conclusions: Physical therapy has provided superior results for those who receive it on a regular basis. These results include the correction of posture, reduction in stiffness, expansion of the range of motion and strengthening of muscles, thus allowing patients to do more movements and boosting their ability to perform everyday tasks.

Keywords
spinal muscular atrophy
nusinersen
physical therapy
neuromuscular disorder
motor functioning
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