The following is a summary of the “A review of current rehabilitation practices and their benefits in patients with multiple sclerosis,” published in the January 2023 issue of Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders by Lodice, et al.
Demyelination of the central nervous system nerves is a hallmark of multiple sclerosis (MS). This chronic, disabling disease causes patients to lose the capacity to carry out routine tasks gradually. Because of the incurability of the disease, patients must rely on rehabilitation therapy to help them regain or maintain function and enhance their physical, mental, and social health. Due to the wide variety of MS symptoms, there is no uniform model of care in place at present. Physical rehabilitation techniques, such as balance and gait treatment, speech and respiratory rehabilitation, and occupational therapy, are also accessible. Exercise-based therapies have been shown to have multiple benefits for people with MS, contrary to common belief. These benefits include a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular disease and an increase in cognitive function, and a reduction in the severity of MS-related physical symptoms.
The benefits of cognitive rehabilitation therapy can be broken down into two categories: compensatory rehabilitation, which aids in cognitive functioning, and restorative rehabilitation, which aids in memory. In addition, non-invasive procedures like cranial stimulation and other forms of stimulation rehabilitation, such as focused muscle vibration therapy, may help patients regain mobility through excitation therapies. Robot-assisted gait therapy and telerehabilitation are more innovative rehabilitation technologies that will become increasingly important in the next years. Both in- and out-patient care settings have been proven useful, with certain patients being more suited to a particular setting, and the composition of the care team has been found to affect patient outcomes. Patients are encouraged to establish a relationship with a single point of care, but it is recommended that they work with a multidisciplinary care team and undergo regular reassessments to manage their symptoms better as they evolve.
Several aspects of rehabilitation have been identified, and it is clear that they play a crucial role in producing positive results. Patient involvement in treatment, goal setting with a multidisciplinary care team, and a guiding-light purpose for the patient that centers on realizing their individual potential and making progress through a specialized strategy are all essential parts of an integrated, patient-centered care model. In addition, the importance of a measurable increase in activity and involvement and a decrease in impairment is emphasized by the results measurement, which is the last but most important aspect of rehabilitation. Generally, it is difficult to make comparisons due to the need for more standardization in outcome metrics. This is especially crucial when contrasting established medical practices with experimental forms of therapy. However, within the larger field of rehabilitation therapy, it is evident that MS patients can benefit from rehabilitation techniques; physically, intellectually, and socially.
Source: sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2211034822009646
