Utilization of physical rehabilitation among people with multiple sclerosis

The goal in rehabilitating patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) is to minimize their physical and mental impairments and keep them integrated into their social environment. However, rehabilitation is not systematically utilized in MS patients.

This study aimed to determine how many patients diagnosed with MS use rehabilitation as a way of treatment and to evaluate correlation between use of rehabilitation and level of impairment.

We analyzed data regarding the use of rehabilitation in the last 2 years in 63 MS patients. Data were gathered using questionnaires during regular visits to neurological outpatient clinic from October to December 2011. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) was determined for all patients.

One or more types of rehabilitation were used in 41.3% of questioned patients: inpatient, outpatient and home-based rehabilitation were used in 28.5, 17.4 and 4.7% of patients, respectively. Average EDSS in group with inpatient rehabilitation was 2.9, in group with outpatient rehabilitation 3.0 and in group without rehabilitation 1.0. We found that patients who used inpatient, outpatient and home-based rehabilitation had higher level of impairment comparing to patients who were not rehabilitated (p=0.002, p=0.004 and p=0.021, respectively).

Rehabilitation of MS patients is not systematically provided, especially in early stages of disease when best results can be achieved.