Fysioterapeuten (Jan 2023)

Optimizing sensorimotor function, physical activity and employment for people with MS – a feasibility study

  • Hanne Kristin Fikke,
  • Britt Normann,
  • Marianne Sivertsen,
  • Stine Susanne Haakonsen Dahl,
  • Ellen Christin Arntzen

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 90, no. 1
pp. 32 – 42

Abstract

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Objectives: Investigate the feasibility and preliminary results of a new multidisciplinary intervention (CoreDISTparticipation) for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) delivered across healthcare levels targeting balance, walking, physical activity and employment. Methods: A baseline-, 6- and 11 weeks pre-posttest-design, including 15 PwMS, EDSS 0-4.5, receiving CoreDISTparticipation: a) MS-outpatient clinic; MS-nurse digital work-focused session and physiotherapist (PT) exploring balance b) Municipality; a digital meeting with the PwMS, employer, MS-nurse and PT addressing employment and physical activity, 4 weeks indoor-training + 4 weeks outdoor-training 2 day/week for 60 min. Structured interviews with PwMS and employers where conducted. Primary outcome: MS work difficulties questionnaire-Norwegian Version (MSWDQ-23NV). Secondary outcomes: 6 Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (MiniBESTest), Trunk Impairment Scale modified Norwegian Version (TIS-modNV), MS Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12), MS Impact Scale-29 Norwegian version (MSIS-29NV), EQ-5D-3L, ActiGraph wGT3x-BT monitors, AccuGait Optimized forceplatform. Descriptive statistics and paired sample t-test were used for analysis. Results: MSWDQ-23NV, 5.33 points (p=0.091) demonstrated a tendency though no significant within-group change. 6MWT changed 46.41 meters (p=0.001), Mini-BESTest 1.69 points (p=<0.001), TIS-modNV 1.77 points (p=0.012), MSIS-29NV 6.70 points (p=0.023), EQ-5D-3L 0.09 points (p=0.022) which demonstrated significant within-group improvements at week 11. Indoor-training had higher attendance (77.5%) than outdoor-training (53.3%). The digital meetings were reported as moderately useful. Conclusions: CoreDISTparticipation is feasible and provided improvements in the outcome measures. Minor adjustments in group-training frequency and digital meetings are advised for future studies.

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