Rehabilitation of A Patient Diagnosed with Polymyositis Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Report

Polymyositis (PM) is one of four types of rare inflammatory myopathies. The occurrence of myositis induced by COVID-19 vaccination is an uncommon phenomenon, and there is uncertainty whether such cases would respond to conventional physical therapy treatments typically administered to patients with polymyositis. This case report aims to outline the physical therapy plan of care for a patient diagnosed with PM following COVID-19 vaccination. A 36-year-old female who was admitted to home health physical therapy one year after being diagnosed with PM. She complained of 4/10 dull-aching pain in the lumbo-pelvic area, and functional deficits included inability to rise to standing from a sitting position, roll in bed, reach overhead, walk without assistance and negotiate a flight of stairs. The patient was assessed with the SF-36 questionnaire, TUG, 2MWT, standing balance and muscle strength testing. She participated in physical therapy treatment for 10 weeks. The patient demonstrated improvement of overall functional mobility. Reassessment of scores for TUG, 2MWT and muscle strength showed improvements from the baseline. This case report provides one example of physical therapy interventions for the rehabilitation of Covid vaccine induced PM. Results suggest physical therapy interventions may improve functional mobility, even in this condition.