Rheum Academy

Join Alison To (OT) and Angelo Papachristos (APP) for Virtual noon educational rounds on Inflammatory Myopathies and Allied Health Intervention.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a group of rare, heterogeneous autoimmune conditions that frequently produce significant and fluctuating functional disability.

This virtual lunch-and-learn offers occupational therapists and other allied health professionals a practical, evidence-informed framework for assessing and managing IIM through an occupational performance lens.

The first portion of the session will review the core elements of IIM assessment — including manual muscle testing (MMT-8), validated functional measures (FI-2/3, 30-Second Sit-to-Stand, Timed Up and Go, 6-Minute Walk Test), cardiovascular and balance screening, and patient-reported outcomes (HAQ) — and highlight their relevance to ADLs, IADLs, and participation in work and leisure.

The second portion will focus on intervention, with particular attention to patient education across disease activity states, individualized exercise prescription (including high-intensity interval training evidence from Andreasson et al.), fatigue and energy management, and strategies for addressing functional limitations at home, at work, and in the community.

Clinical pearls will be shared throughout to build participants' knowledge and confidence in supporting this clinically complex population.

Target Audience: Occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and other allied health professionals working with adults with rheumatologic or neuromuscular conditions

Presenters:

Alison To, OT, ACPAC - Martin Family Arthritis Care & Research Centre, Division of Rheumatology, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto.

Angelo Papachristos, PT, ACPAC — Advanced Practice Physiotherapist, Martin Family Arthritis Care & Research Centre, Division of Rheumatology, St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto

Learning Objectives:

• Identify key components of the occupational therapy assessment for individuals with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy.
• Describe core patient education priorities for this population, including fatigue and energy management.
• Apply principles of individualized exercise prescription and progression within occupational therapy practice.