Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation of a Patient With Neuromyelitis Optica

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Neuro Myelitis Optica (NMO) is a rare progressive and disabling autoimmune disease. The disabling consequences of the disease affect many aspects of the patients and their family life. multidisciplinary rehabilitation can be very effective in promoting quality of life and slowing disease progression by working with different disciplines. The aim of this study is to report the effects of multidisciplinary rehabilitation on the performance and quality of life of a patient with NMO and her family. Case Report: This study reports a six-month multidisciplinary rehabilitation program conducted for a woman with NMO and her caregiver. The rehabilitation team included the patient’s caregiver, a neurologist, an occupational therapist, and a speech therapist. The approaches of stabilization and recovery, maintenance, modification, and prevention were used through 70 sessions of occupational therapy. Also, the occupational performance was assessed with the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Furthermore, the Persian version of SF36 was used to assess the quality of life. The speech therapy intervention was performed in 24 sessions and included breath strengthening exercises, sound therapy, and laryngeal muscle manipulation. After six months, the results showed a great improvement in the quality of life of the patient and her caregiver. Conclusion: The use of team approaches in the face of progressive neurodegenerative diseases such as NMO has a significant impact on improving the quality of life of these patients and their families.

Keywords

• multidisciplinary rehabilitation
• neuro myelitis optica
• occupational therapy
• speech therapy