A 2 YEARS DATA Collection Of The Effect Of Physical Therapy In MS

Background:

The majority of patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) experience a decrease in their mobility as their disease progresses. It’s well known now that movement and exercise therapy are beneficial: they can induce a (partial) recuperation of functional motor loss or maintain the present level of functional mobility. In the past several years, many studies have shown that fitness and power exercises have a positive impact on fatigue and general physical capacity of PwMS.

In the rehabilitation department from the NMSC, we work within a multidisciplinary team composed from PT, OT, speech therapist, social workers, psychologist en neuropsychologist, rehab nurses and rehab doctors. We treat both in- and outpatients.

Objectives:

In this study we focused only on the inpatients and on the efforts of physical therapy (PT) department. We provide all our PwMS with an individual PT session as well as many different group therapies (fitness, relaxation, hydrotherapy, horse riding, balance training, passive cycling,). The common goal of each therapy is to actively and passively mobilize the patient within their joint limitations, thus tempting to increase or augment their functional possibilities.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of the physical therapy department in regard to the commonly used functional tests.

In prolongation of the study on the effects of PT in MS rehabilitation in 2011, we also analyses the data of 2012 whereby we can pool this data   over the period of two years (Jan.2011–Dec. 2012) for all inpatient.  

Methods:

Demographic data and specific testing data for physical therapy were obtained prior to and after each inpatients rehabilitation program. We will present an analysis of these results of the PT team on: short and long distance walk tests (25FWT and 6MWT), MDST (Melsbroek Disability Scoring Test), the number of obtained Rehabilitation Activity Profile (RAP) goals.

Correlation between EDSS, age, length of disease and the functional tests will also be addressed for each year separately and for both years together.

Results:

In 2011 we included 397 patients: 182 men and 215 women with a mean age of 53.4 years and mean hospitalization duration of 5.2 weeks. 

In 2012 we included 476 patients: 193 men and 283 women with a mean age of 53 years and mean hospitalization duration of 4.4 weeks.

Conclusions:

The results analysis are ine progress