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Scleroderma

Janet Poole, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

August 1, 2016

Question

Is evaluating sensation as important as assessing joint motion, ADL, or hand function?

Answer

Sensation is pretty much preserved in people with scleroderma. I did a study where I thought that it might be impaired, but I really did not find that it was. That is not to say that not everybody is intact. If people have had ulcers and have a lot of scarring, then they might have some decreased sensation. You could ask people, but I have not found it to be a real problem.


janet poole

Janet Poole, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA

Janet L. Poole, PhD, OTR/L, is a Professor and Director of the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program at the University of New Mexico.  Dr. Poole has worked with many people with different rheumatic diseases, published and presented on rheumatology-related content to students and health professionals, and mentored students’ research projects focused on occupational performance challenges faced by people with arthritis. Dr. Poole served as President of the Association of Rheumatology Professionals (ARP) from 2019-2020, and in 2022 the ARP honored Dr. Poole with the Master’s Designation, for those  “who have made outstanding contributions to the field of rheumatology through service to the ACR/ARP and advancements in research, practice, education, and/or advocacy from the ARP”.


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