Guide To Treating CREST Syndrome

CREST syndrome is a form of the disease called scleroderma, and the clinical features that manifest in patients with this disease are what forms the acronym CREST. Calcinosis, or deposits of calcium that develop underneath the skin of the fingers or other body parts, refers to the 'C' in CREST. The 'R' refers to Raynaud's disease, which is a response to stress or cold that occurs in the toes or fingers where blood vessels have spasms. Esophageal dysmotility or difficulty with swallowing is what the 'E' in CREST refers to. The 'S' stands for a condition where the fingers bend due to a tightening of the skin called sclerodactyly. The 'T' in CREST refers to vessel dilation or telangiectasia that occurs in the skin of the face, inside of the mouth, or on the fingers. At least two of the five symptoms represented in the CREST acronym must be present to receive a diagnosis.

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Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy is a type of treatment that helps individuals who have trouble with everyday activities due to disease or disability. This type of therapy focuses on helping individuals adapt to living with and working around the challenges their condition poses to them. Based on the symptoms the patient with CREST syndrome is experiencing, occupational therapy can help to treat the disease. The best outcomes with occupational therapy occur with individuals with CREST who experience diffuse thickening of the skin and other connective tissues that makes it extremely difficult to stay active. This type of therapy assists with the stretching of the muscles, joints, and skin being affected by CREST syndrome. Because the symptoms of CREST syndrome often result in the patient becoming sedentary, muscle mass loss almost always occurs. Occupational therapy can help the patient maintain and improve the range of their movements and prevent muscle mass loss. In addition, occupational therapy stimulates the release of natural proteins that decrease pain sensation called endorphins. This type of therapy also helps the patient maintain good lung and heart function, as well as maintain adequate bone strength.

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