Describing the Population Characteristics of Multiple Sclerosis Related Intention Tremor Using the Multidimensional Assessment of Tremor (MAT).

Background: Upper limb intention tremor (ULIT) due to multiple sclerosis (MS) disrupts important activities of daily life such as eating and handwriting. The Multidimensional Assessment of Tremor (MAT) is a self report scale with high inter-rater and test-retest reliability that offers therapists a clinically useful, evidence-based tool for evaluating the impact of tremor on daily activities. The Step-Wise Approach for Treating Intention Tremor 2 (SWAT-IT2) is an intervention protocol to support individuals with ULIT to function in daily life.

Objectives: (1) Describe the population characteristics of MS-related ULIT. (2) Identify which functional activities are most impacted by MS-related ULIT. (3) Quantify self-report performance improvements in daily activities following the SWAT-IT2 intervention protocol.

Methods: 15 community dwelling persons with MS-related ULIT are provided with demographic and medical status questionnaires at baseline and one month post SWAT-IT2 intervention during individualized sessions. Performance in daily activities is quantified using the Functional Severity Scale of the MAT and scores are analyzed between subjects and within subjects. Analysis includes descriptive statistics to characterize the population and nonparametric statistics to analyze the pre-post intervention trends for client perceived function.

Results: Data from the MAT will allow researchers to accurately describe the characteristics of the MS-related ULIT population and the daily activities that are impacted the most.

Conclusions: This study adds to the research literature describing the characteristics of individuals experiencing MS-related ULIT, the activities of daily living that are most impacted, and quantifies individual self-report performance improvements post-intervention.