Perspectives From Persons With Multiple Sclerosis for a Comprehensive Real-World Change Therapy for Mobility

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) often leads to impaired lower extremity (LE) use and mobility challenges.
• Constraint-induced therapy (CIT) is a therapeutic approach aimed at improving limb function by encouraging use.
• Developing effective rehabilitation strategies is crucial for enhancing the quality of life for individuals with MS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate patient perspectives on the acceptability of a novel LE constraint-induced therapy (CIT) for individuals with MS.
• To assess the potential of LE CIT to improve real-world lower extremity function in the MS population.
• To gather preliminary data supporting the efficacy of LE CIT for enhancing mobility in MS.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous internet survey was distributed to 500 adults with MS experiencing lower limb spasticity.
• Participants rated the acceptability of key LE CIT procedures using a Likert scale.
• Survey responses from 281 individuals were analyzed to determine overall acceptance rates.

Main Results:

• A significant majority (90%) of respondents expressed interest in participating in LE CIT.
• Over 88% of participants found the key LE CIT procedures highly acceptable.
• Individuals with prior physical therapy experience showed greater acceptance of LE CIT.

Conclusions:

• LE constraint-induced therapy (CIT) demonstrates strong patient acceptance among individuals with MS.
• Preliminary findings suggest LE CIT may benefit community-based lower extremity use in MS.
• Further clinical trials are warranted to validate the efficacy of LE CIT for improving mobility in MS patients.