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Published on: February 1, 2018
A pilot study of functional electrical stimulation cycling in progressive multiple sclerosis
John N Ratchford1, Wendy Shore, Edward R Hammond
1Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Neurorehabilitation
|September 28, 2010
Summary
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling improved walking ability and quality of life in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS). This home-based intervention shows promise for managing MS symptoms and warrants further investigation in larger trials.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling aids neurologic recovery in spinal cord injury patients.
- Its potential benefits for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients are being explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the safety and preliminary efficacy of home-based FES cycling in progressive MS.
- To investigate changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytokine levels following FES cycling.
Main Methods:
- Five progressive MS patients used an FES cycle for six months.
- Evaluated outcomes included walking tests, leg strength, disability scales (EDSS, MSFC), and quality of life (SF-36).
- CSF cytokine and growth factor levels were measured pre- and post-intervention.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements were observed in the Two Minute Walk Test, Timed 25-foot Walk, and Timed Up and Go tests.
- FES cycling enhanced strength in stimulated muscles, improved MSFC scores, and boosted physical and mental health quality-of-life scores (SF-36).
- No change in EDSS scores was noted.
Conclusions:
- Home-based FES cycling demonstrated good tolerability in progressive MS patients.
- The intervention yielded encouraging improvements in walking function and quality of life.
- Larger studies are recommended to further validate FES cycling for progressive MS management.
