Background and purpose: As direct access evolves, physical therapists will increasingly encounter patients with pathology that might have an underlying systemic origin. The purpose of this case report is to describe the diagnostic process that led a patient's physical therapist to recognize signs and symptoms of dermatomyositis.
Case description: The patient was an 18-year-old woman who was referred for physical therapy by her primary care physician on 3 occasions with 3 separate musculoskeletal diagnoses. During the third episode, the physical therapist recognized signs and symptoms that could be indicative of dermatologic disease and referred the patient to a dermatologist.
Outcomes: A rheumatologist diagnosed the patient's condition as dermatomyositis and referred her for physical therapy. The physical therapy plan of care focused on strengthening and stretching, with an emphasis on a home exercise program. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) indicated that the patient continually made functional improvements over an 18-month period.
Discussion: Although diagnosis of diseases such as inflammatory myopathies is not within a physical therapist's scope of practice, this case demonstrates the role a physical therapist can play in recognition of underlying systemic pathology by using the diagnostic process.