Involvement of myasthenia gravis patients in physiotherapy and physical activities

Mijastenija gravis jest autoimuna neuromuskularna bolest pri kojoj organizam stvara protutijela protiv receptora na mišićnim stanicama i tako sprječava prijenos podražaja sa živaca na mišiće. Mišići se brzo umaraju i javlja se slabost mišića. Cilj istraživanja bio je provjeriti koliko su oboljeli od mijastenije gravis uključeni u fizioterapijski program i druge oblike tjelesne aktivnosti te ispitati stav oboljelih o ulozi tjelesne aktivnosti na njihovu bolest te postoji li razlika funkcioniranja u svakodnevnom životu kod oboljelih s obzirom na poteškoće povezane s inkontinencijom, operaciju timusa i na spol. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 211 ispitanika s dijagnosticiranom mijastenijom gravis, 181 žena (85,8%) te 30 muškaraca (14,2%), prosječne dobi 39 godina. Rezultati ovog istraživanja pokazuju da većina ispitanika smatra kako planirana tjelesna aktivnost pogoršava njihovo zdravstveno stanje, nema utjecaja ili nisu upoznati s učincima na zdravstveno stanje, manje su tjelesno aktivne i većinski nisu uključene u proces fizioterapije ni u neki drugi vid tjelesne aktivnosti. Statistički značajna razlika funkcioniranja u svakodnevnom životu nađena je kod osoba koje su operirale timus (p<0,00) i koje imaju problema s inkontinencijom (p<0,00). Neupitno je da mijastenija gravis dovodi do smanjenja funkcioniranja u svakodnevnom životu te da edukacija oboljelih o važnosti terapijskog vježbanja donosi benefite u smislu boljeg funkcioniranja za oboljele od mijastenije gravis.Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease in which organism produces antibodies against receptors located on muscle cells thus preventing transmission of stimuli from nerves to muscles. Muscles tire rapidly and muscle weakness occurs. The aim of this study was to examine the functionality in the daily life of patients with myasthenia gravis related to gender, thymus surgery and incontinence, and to examine the involvement of patients in the physiotherapy process and other forms of physical activity. 211 subjects diagnosed with myasthenia gravis were included in the research - 181 women (85.8%) and 30 men (14.2%) with the mean age of 39 years. Results of this research show that most subjects believe that planned physical activity aggravates their health status, does not affect it, or they are not aware of the effects it has on their health; they are less physically active and most do not undergo a physiotherapy treatment or do other physical activity. A statistically significant difference in functioning in daily life was established in subjects who had undergone a thymectomy (p < 0.00) and those with incontinence problems (p < 0.00). Myasthenia gravis undoubtedly leads to a poorer functioning in daily life and educating myasthenia gravis patients on the importance of therapeutic exercise brings about benefits such as improving their functioning in activities of daily living (ADL)