Intensive circuit class therapy in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Kocica J, Kolcava J, Sladeckova M, Stourac P, Vlckova E, Dosbaba F, Kratochvilova J, Bednarik J.

J Rehabil Med. 2022 Feb 17. doi:10.2340/jrm.v54.2027. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35174869.

24 Feb 2022

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Long-term physiotherapy is of considerable benefit to patients with motor dysfunction or gait impairment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of 12-week intensive circuit class therapy (ICT) for patients with MS, with a wider focus on fatigue and gait ability. Methods: A total of 46 relapsing-remitting MS patients were divided randomly: Twenty-three of them (mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 2.33±0.74) took part in an intensive 12-week course of ICT and 23 (mean EDSS 2.04±0.63) served as a control group. The EDSS, Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Four-Stage Balance Test (FSBT) made up the physical testing part, supplemented by questionnaires such as the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), 12-Item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36). Results: Significant improvements were found among ICT-exercising patients in FSBT (p<0.05), TUG test (p<0.01), MFIS (p<0.01), BDI (p<0.05), MSWS-12 (p<0.05) and the three subscales of SF-36 after 12 weeks of ICT, while there were no significant changes in the control group. ICT-exercising patients exhibited significant improvements in FSBT (p=0.005), TUG test (p=0.005), MFIS (p=0.001), BDI (p=0.002), MSWS-12 (p=0.001) and the three subscales of SF-36 after 12 weeks of ICT compared to control group. Conclusion: Intensive circuit class therapy is an effective therapeutic approach for improving gait and balance problems in patients with MS. It has also proved to alleviate fatigue and symptoms of depression.


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