Physical rehabilitation has a positive effect on disability in multiple sclerosis patients

Citation
A. Solari et al., Physical rehabilitation has a positive effect on disability in multiple sclerosis patients, NEUROLOGY, 52(1), 1999, pp. 57-62
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Neurology,"Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
NEUROLOGY
ISSN journal
00283878 → ACNP
Volume
52
Issue
1
Year of publication
1999
Pages
57 - 62
Database
ISI
SICI code
0028-3878(19990101)52:1<57:PRHAPE>2.0.ZU;2-I
Abstract
Background: Although physical rehabilitation is commonly administered to MS patients, its efficacy has not been established. Objective: We assessed th e efficacy of an inpatient physical rehabilitation program on impairment, d isability, and quality of life of MS patients with a randomized, single-bli nd, controlled trial. Methods: Fifty ambulatory MS patients were assigned t o 3 weeks of inpatient physical rehabilitation (study treatment) or exercis es performed at home (control treatment). Patients were evaluated at baseli ne and at 3, 9, and 15 weeks by a blinded examining physician. Results: No changes in impairment occurred in either group, as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale. At the end of the intervention the study group im proved significantly in disability, as assessed by the Functional Independe nce Measure (FIM) motor domain, compared with controls (p = 0.004), and the improvement persisted at 9 weeks (p = 0.001). The effect size statistic wa s usually large or moderate in all scale scores of the FIM motor domain at 3 weeks and moderate to fair thereafter. The study group also improved in o verall health-related quality of life profile compared with controls; howev er, the difference was significant only for the mental composite score at 3 (p = 0.008) and 9 weeks (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Despite unchanging impai rment, physical rehabilitation resulted in an improvement in disability and had a positive impact on mental components of health-related quality of li fe perception at 3 and 9 weeks.