Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Chandler, Chris, Daniel, & Jordon
Definition of MS Multiple sclerosis (MS) involves an immune-mediated process in which an abnormal response of the body s immune system is directed against the central nervous system (CNS), which is made up of the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves. The exact antigen or target that the immune cells are sensitized to attack remains unknown, which is why MS is considered by many experts to be "immune-mediated" rather than "autoimmune. 11 The pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterised by fatigue, motor weakness, spasticity, poor balance, heat sensitivity and mental depression. Also, MS symptoms may lead to physical inactivity associated with the development of secondary diseases. 4
Disease profile - Affects about 400,00 Americans and 2 million worldwide 2 - Onset typically between the ages of 20-50; average onset of 34 2-4 types: - Relapse-remit: About 85% of patients initially diagnosed with this type 2 - Primary-progressive: About 10% of patients initially diagnosed with this type 2 - Secondary-progressive: 60% - 70% of people who experience relapse-remit MS develop secondary-progressive MS 1 - Progressive-Relapsing: rarest form - < 5% initially diagnosed with this type 2 - Attacks last days to weeks 1
Signs and Symptoms 1 - Pain and/or tingling - Numbness or weakness in >1 extremities or the trunk, with one side more affected than the other - Vision impairment, with one side usually more affected than the other - Electric shock sensation - Dizziness or fatigue - Poor coordination and unstable gait - Bowel and bladder functional abnormalities - Heat intolerance
Risk Factors - Idiopathic - Genetics are the gun and environment is the trigger - Women > men - Northern latitudes > southern latitudes - Thought to have a genetic component 2 - Comorbidities - The most frequently reported comorbidities are hypercholesterolemia (37%), hypertension (30%), and arthritis (16%) 12 - Mental Illness - Vascular disease - No evidence that vaccines or viruses cause MS 2 - Higher risk for initial attack within 6 months of giving birth 2
Case Study: Moderate Multiple Sclerosis-Related Disability 3 The Patient: L.S. - 60 y.o. female with 20 yr. history of relapse & remitting MS - P1: Increased difficulty with walking, especially outdoors and in the community - Admits to limited ability to complete household shopping independently - Medical Hx - Depression - Urinary Incontinence - Hypertension - Pt. Goals: Feel secure walking out in the community
Test and Measures Strength: MMT Left Right Hip Extension Hip Flexion Hip Abduction Knee Extension Knee Flexion Ankle DF Ankle eversion Ankle inversion ROM/Flexibility: Limited Ankle DF Outcome Tools - Fatigue - VAS - 6/10 (10 being worst fatigue) - Dynamic Gait Index (Balance + Fall Risk) - 14/24 - Well below norms for her age group - Elevated fall risk - 12 item MS Walking Scale (MSWS-12) - 46/100 - Elevated fall risk - L > R - Left plantarflexor contracture
PT Evaluation: ICF Model Health Condition: Relapse & Remitting MS Body Structure Impairments/Activity Limitations/Participation Strength Bilateral LE Limited walking and balance function Limited in walking outdoors ROM and Flexibility Fatigue Shopping for household Impaired ability to navigate stairs/curbs Environmental Internal Depression External Lives alone Single story home, 4 stairs to enter
Why exercise patients like L.S.? Despite the often unpredictable clinical course of MS, exercise programmes designed to increase cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength and mobility provide benefits that enhance lifestyle activity and quality of life while reducing risk of secondary disorders 4 - Exercise is neuroprotective - High dosage is beneficial - Management of fatigue and heat sensitivity - Improvements on gait speed 5 - Alternative options - Aqua therapy
Prognosis and Plan of Care for L.S. - Prognosis - Those with MS have normal or near-normal life span 2 - For L.S. : Likely patient will make improvement but unlikely to have complete recovery from disease. 3 - Plan of Care - Frequency and Time: PT 2x/week for 8-12 weeks with daily HEP - Intensity: High repetition is needed with monitoring of fatigue and thermal regulation - Type: Flexibility, Strength, Endurance, Balance, and Functional exercises - Intervention - Designed to address patient s impairments and functional limitations - Patient education and compliance - Fall prevention (managing fatigue and thermal regulation) - Community programs and HEP to combat deconditioning
Exercise Precautions: Patient should check with doctor before starting new exercise program Cater to patients capabilities/limitations Carefully consider/address patient goals w/ exercise program Avoid strenuous exercise on days where patient has increased symptomatic fatigue These patients need to be monitored closely during exercise program Uhthoff s sign: blurry vision during overheating. 4
Treatment (Week 1) Address Impairments! Gastroc tight leading to gait/ balance issues: General Stretching Guidelines 10-15 mins daily, 20-60 sec per stretch. 4 Stretch: gastrocnemius (short periods throughout day 4 ) and mobilize ankle to increase ROM. Decreased strength in multiple muscle groups: Functional strengthening: Squats, bridges, step ups, multi directional stepping, walking practice, and treadmill training 3. Strengthening exercise can improve functional mobility in people with MS 6. Dose = 2x/week for progressive resistive strengthening to specific major muscle groups 6. Do fewer reps per set with increased rest periods. This may create opportunity for more strength training overall because patient is not exhausted after each set 7. Helps avoid excessive build up of fatigue and heat stress which can worsen MS symptoms 4.
Week 1 Continued: Limited walking and balance function (increased fall risk per DGI score of 14/24). Static/Dynamic balance training by: Decreasing BOS Altering visual Altering somatosensory inputs Improve sensory integration for maintaining upright postural control 8 Task specific training: Dual task gait training (e.g. walking with head turning, stepping over and around obstacles, turning around, carrying items, on varied surfaces, or with a cognitive task) Can help to train dynamic standing balance. 9
Squats
Bridges
Step Ups
Multidirectional Stepping
Walking Practice/ Treadmill Training
Balance Single leg Stepping over obstacles
Week 2-3 Continue Strengthening and Balance Training and increase difficulty/intensity as patients strength/balance improve (according to FITT principle). Aerobic/Cardiovascular: Endurance training may reduce fatigue and improve balance. 7 Favorable outcomes in as little as 4 weeks 4. Program can include: Stationary cycling with legs/arms, swimming/aquatic exercise, treadmill/elliptical training (higher level MS patients) 4. In absence of symptoms aim for 11-14/20 (moderate intensity) on Borg scale of perceived exertion. Note: Patient may not have the muscle strength to reach desired intensity. In that case slowly progress both strength/endurance exercises until desired intensity is achieved.
Aquatic Therapy Aquatic exercise is beneficial in temps of 80-84 degrees F 4 Primary benefit is better heat dissipation 4 Balance exercises are easier in chest high water Greater ROM Improves fatigue, and physical and mental HRQOL 10
Home Exercise Program Week 1: Stretching: Strengthening: Stretches: Calf Stretch, theraband/ wall 2 sets of 3o seconds, 3 times a day Step ups on stairs with a rail (if they are easily accessible in the home) - 2 sets of 3-5 with a 2 minute break in between sets Bridge Setting: lay supine and contract core (belly button through the table) and contract bottom - 5 sets of 10 second holds with a 1 minute break in between each. Work up to bridges later this week if possible.
Home Exercise Program Week 2-3 Stretching: Add a few more stretches (goal is to get up to whole body stretching). Consider joining a yoga class? Strengthening: Bridges Step ups (increase the number or speed they do them at depending on patient progression -2 sets of 8-10 with a 2 minute break in between sets) Walking (10 mins/day) Balance: Stand on one leg while holding onto a rail or stable chair - 3-5 sets of 1 minute per day
Take-Home Messages Exercise programs with individuals with MS should target mobility, strength, and cardiovascular fitness while decreasing chance for 2ndary disorders Pick exercises that are fun, modifiable, and functional throughout their lives Use less reps and sets with more rest periods Avoid strenuous exercise on days where patient has increased symptomatic fatigue Monitor MS pts. closely
References 1. Multiple Sclerosis. Mayo Clinic Website. Published October 1, 2015. Retreived from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiplesclerosis/symptoms-causes/dxc-20131884. Accessed July 13, 2016. 2. Multiple Sclerosis. University of Maryland Medical Center Website. Published September 25, 2012. Retrieved from http://umm. edu/health/medical/reports/articles/multiple-sclerosis. Accessed July 13, 2015. 3. Schmidt D, Cohen ET. Clinical Example: Moderate Multiple Sclerosis-Related Disability. American Physical Therapy Association 2016. 4. White LJ, Dressendorfer RH. Exercise and multiple sclerosis. Sports Med. 2004;34(15):1077 1100. 5. Sandroff BM, Klaren RE, Motl RW. Relationships Among Physical Inactivity, Deconditioning, and Walking Impairment with Persons with Multiple Sclerosis. JNPT. 2015; 39 (2): 103-110. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0000000000000087 6. Latimer Cheung AE, Pilutti LA, Hicks AL, et al. Effects of exercise training on fitness, mobility, fatigue, and health related quality of life among adults with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review to inform guideline development. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013;94(9):1800 1828. 7. Karpatkin H. Intermittent strengthening results in improved leg raise function in persons with MS. Paper presented at: 27th Annual Meeting of the CMSC and the 5th Cooperative Meeting of the CMSCACTRIMS; May 29 June 1, 2013; Orlando, FL. 8. Paltamaa J, Sjögren T, Peurala SH, Heinonen A. Effects of physiotherapy interventions on balance in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of rehabilitation medicine. 2012 Oct 5;44(10):811-23. 9. Sullivan KJ, Brown DA, Klassen T, Mulroy S, Ge T, Azen SP, Winstein CJ. Effects of task-specific locomotor and strength training in adults who were ambulatory after stroke: results of the STEPS randomized clinical trial. Physical therapy. 2007 Dec 1;87(12):1580-602. 10. Kargarfard M, Etemadifar M, Baker P, Mehrabi M, Hayatbakhsh R. Effect of aquatic exercise training on fatigue and health-related quality of life in patients with multiple sclerosis. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation. 2012 Oct 31;93(10):1701-8. 11. Definition of MS. National Multiple Sclerosis Society. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/what-is-ms/definition-of-ms. Accessed July 17, 2016 12. Marrie RA, Horwitz R, Cutter G, Tyry T, Campagnolo D, Vollmer T. Comorbidity, socioeconomic status and multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Journal. 2008; 14(8): 1091-1098.