TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Improvement of driving skills in persons with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: A pilot study
JO  - Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
A1  - Phillips, Kendra
A1  - Baker, Kelly
A1  - Devos, Hannes
A1  - Akinwuntan, Abiodun Emmanuel
A1  - Williams, Mitzi Joi
A1  - Smith, Suzanne
A1  - Kumar, Vibha
SP  - 531
EP  - 537
VL  - 95
IS  - 3
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the potential to improve driving-related skills using a simulator-based program in persons with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). DESIGN: Pre-post intervention. SETTING: Georgia Regents University driving simulator lab. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty participants with RRMS and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) values between 1 and 7 were enrolled. Pre- and post-training data from 36 participants' (46 ± 11 years; 30 females) who received training and 6 participants (48 ± 13 years; 5 females) who did not receive training (control group) were compared. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Performance on a road test at pre- and post-training. Secondary outcome measures were performance on visual, physical, and cognitive tests. INTERVENTIONS: Five hours of driving training in a simulator. RESULTS: Overall, no significant differences were observed between the training and control groups before and after training. However, 4 of the 7 participants in the training group who failed the road test at pre-training passed post training while the only participant in the control group who failed at pre-training still failed at post-training. The training group also improved on perception of red and green color, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test, dot cancellation test of the Stroke Driver Screening Assessment battery and reported less fatigue. These improvements were most pronounced among those with EDSS between 3 and7. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study demonstrates the potential of using a simulator to improve driving-related visual, cognitive, and on-road skills in individuals with RRMS, particularly those with EDSS > 3. Future randomized controlled trials with adequate power are needed to expand this field of study.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0003-9993
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2013.08.294
ID  - ref1
ER  -