Citation

Karpatkin H. J. Physiother. 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Physical Therapy, Hunter College, New York, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Australian Physiotherapy Association)

DOI

10.1016/j.jphys.2019.10.006

PMID

31718961

Abstract

Falls and falls-related injuries are commonly seen by clinicians who treat multiple sclerosis. Therefore, developing intervention strategies specifically targeting falls in this population should be a priority. Approaches specifically targeting people with greater multiple sclerosis-related disability and who are still walking should receive particular attention, as this population is more likely to fall or stop walking due to fear of falls.1 The authors describe an intervention program combining assistive device training with task-oriented gait training with assistive devices, finding that participants who received this training had fewer falls and spent less time sitting than controls. However, there was no between-group difference in mobility scores.

Two clinically important messages emerged from this study. First, using task-specific programs, as opposed to more generalised programs (eg, aerobic fitness, resistance training), indicates that clinicians working with patients with multiple sclerosis should focus on tailoring treatments to the specific gait problems of the patient. Multiple sclerosis has a very specific clinical presentation, and clinicians who work with this population should be mindful that interventions are targeted to their patient’s specific impairments and functional limitations. Second, despite the fact that the participants in this study were fairly disabled and required constant use of an assistive device, improvements in mobility were still evident after intervention, indicating that even patients with greater disability may improve mobility in meaningful ways with appropriate intervention.

Language: en