Future directions of multiple sclerosis rehabilitation research

Multiple sclerosis continues to present a host of rehabilitation challenges, specifically the impact of secondary "hidden" conditions on quality of life, participation, and employment. To discuss the current state of rehabilitation research and direct future research endeavors, a state of the science conference was held in November 2010 in Alexandria, Virginia. The conference was presented by the University of Washington's Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center and focused on the current state of research into secondary conditions, outcomes measurement, employment, and the utility of psychotherapeutic interventions. This article discusses the details and recommendations of this conference.