Mobility and balance rehabilitation in multiple sclerosis: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the benefits of neurological rehabilitation and the dose-response relationship for the treatment of mobility and balance in multiple sclerosis. METHODS: We included studies investigating the effects of neurological rehabilitation on mobility and balance with the following eligibility criteria for inclusion: Population, People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS); Intervention, method of rehabilitation interventions; Comparison, experimental (specific balance intervention) vs control (no intervention/no specific balance intervention); Outcome, balance clinical scales; Study Design, randomised controlled trials. We conducted a random effects dose-response meta-analysis to assess linear trend estimations and a one stage linear mixed effects meta-regression for estimating dose-response curves. RESULTS: We retrieved 196 studies from a list of 5020 for full text review and 71 studies (n subjects=3306) were included. One study was a cross-over and 70 studies were randomized controlled trials and the mean sample size per study was 46.5 ± 28.6 (mean±SD) with a mean age of 48.3 ± 7.8years, disease duration of 11.6 ± 6.1years, and EDSS of 4.4 ± 1.4points. Twenty-nine studies (40.8%) had the balance outcome as the primary outcome, while 42 studies (59.1%) had balance as secondary outcome or did not specify primary and secondary outcomes. Thirty-three trials (46.5%) had no active intervention as comparator and 38 trials (53.5%) had an active control group. Individual level data from 20 studies (n subjects=1016) were analyzed showing a medium pooled effect size for balance interventions (SMD=0.41; 95% CIs 0.22 to 0.59). Moreover, we analyzed 14 studies (n subjects=696) having balance as primary outcome and BBS as primary endpoint yielding a mean difference of 3.58 points (95% CIs 1.79 to 5.38, p<0.0001). Finally, we performed meta regression of the 20 studies showing an association between better outcome, log of intensity defined as minutes per session (ß=1.26; SEß=0.51; p = 0.02) and task-oriented intervention (ß=0.38; SEß=0.17; p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our analyses provide level 1 evidence on the effect of balance intervention to improve mobility. Furthermore, according to principles of neurological rehabilitation, high intensity and task-specific interventions are associated with better treatment outcomes.

Objective and subjective measures of daily physical activity in persons with Multiple Sclerosis beginning a rehabilitation regime: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Fatigue, and balance and gait disorders can impact on physical activity (PA) levels in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS). To date, several studies have examined PA in pwMS during daily life, but little is known about PA levels in pwMS during a rehabilitation period. The present study investigated PA levels (daily steps, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)) in inpatient and outpatients with MS during their rehabilitation period and described the relationship between objectively measured PA and levels of disability, quality of life, fatigue, and self-efficacy. METHODS: In this exploratory cross-sectional study, we examined 40 pwMS during their inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation regime. Participants included in the study (N = 34) wore a Fitbit Versa tracker for one week recording daily steps, minutes of LPA, and minutes of MVPA (primary outcomes). They underwent a clinical assessment of physical activity levels (Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire(GLTEQ)), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale(FSS)), walking ability (10 Meter Walk Test(10MWT), 2-Min Walk Test(2MWT), 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking scale(MSWS-12)), quality of life (12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12)), and self-efficacy (Self-Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis scale (SEMS)) (secondary outcomes). Multiple linear regressions (MLR) models were used to test whether the demographic difference between the two groups influenced the estimation of objective variables measured by Fitbit. Finally, correlations between objectively measured physical activity and subjective clinical scales were estimated with Spearman correlations. RESULTS: Our sample consisted of 21 females and 13 males with a mean (interquartile range) age of 52 (20) years and an Expanded Disability Status scale(EDSS) score of 6.0 (1.50) points; baseline characteristics of inpatients (N = 18) and outpatients (N = 16) differed statistically only in EDSS levels (p-value = 0.008) and use of assistive devices (p=0.007). The whole sample performed (mean±standard deviation) 3969±2190 steps per day, with no significant difference between inpatients (3318±1515) and outpatients (4660±2606). No statistical difference was found between the groups in LPA (p-value=0.064). A significant difference in MVPA (p-value < 0.001) was found between inpatients and outpatients, 1.52±3.98 and 14.69±11.56 min per day, respectively. Significant correlations were found between FSS and MVPA both in the whole sample (r(32)= -0.62, p < 0.001) and in the outpatients group (r(14) = -0.66, p = 0.005), and between 10MWT and daily steps (whole sample:(r(32) = 0.48, p = 0.005), outpatients:(r(14)= -0.51, p = 0.05)). CONCLUSIONS: PwMS in our study overall engaged in reduced and less intense levels of daily PA with respect to the guidelines with inpatients performing almost no vigorous activities. Considering the importance of PA in improving physical and mental well-being, clinicians and researchers should develope strategies to increase daily PA of PwMS during their rehabilitation programs and daily life.

Virtual Reality for Motor and Cognitive Rehabilitation From Clinic to Home: A Pilot Feasibility and Efficacy Study for Persons With Chronic Stroke.

Aims: Continuity of care is an important issue in healthcare for persons after stroke. The present multi-center pilot study investigates the feasibility and efficiency of an innovative approach, the Human Empowerment Aging and Disability (HEAD), for digital-health motor and cognitive rehabilitation. The approach is explored within an in-clinic context (ClinicHEAD) and in continuity of care (HomeHEAD) for persons after chronic stroke. Methods: Thirty-four outpatients with chronic stroke (mean age 55 years, SD 13.7) participated. The HEAD VR protocol was administered in two consecutive phases: Phase I in clinic (ClinicHEAD) consisting of 4 weeks of 12 supervised HEAD rehabilitation sessions (45-min), including motor, cognitive and dual task for all participants; Phase II at home (HomeHEAD) consisted of 60 sessions of the same VR activities, 5 times/week for 3 months. All participants in the ClinicHEAD were allocated (ratio 1:2) to continue with tele-monitored home rehabilitation (HH, N = 11) or to follow usual care (UC, N = 23). Blind evaluation was carried out at baseline, after ClinicHEAD, after 3 months of HomeHEAD and at 3 months Follow-up. Primary outcomes were functional mobility [2-min Walking Test (2MWT)] and cognition [Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)]. Feasibility and acceptance were assessed with adherence to treatment and the System Usability Satisfaction. Within group analyses were done with dependent samples t-tests, and between groups HomeHEAD comparisons were carried out on change scores with independent samples t-test (p = 0.05, two tailed). Results: The HEAD protocol was feasible with good adherence both in the ClinicHEAD phase (92%) and HomeHEAD (89%) phase, along with good perceived system satisfaction. ClinicHEAD resulted in a significant increase in functional mobility (2MWT, p = 0.02) and cognition (MoCA, p = 0.003) and most secondary outcome variables. At 3 months follow up of HomeHEAD the HH_group showed a further significantly greater maintenance of functional mobility with respect to UC_group (p = 0.04). Conclusion: The HEAD VR protocol was feasible in clinical and at home tele-rehabilitation for persons in the chronic phase after stroke. In clinic the approach was effective in augmenting motor and cognitive abilities and at home it was effective in longterm maintenance of functional mobility, indicating its usefulness in continuity of care. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03025126.

Sequentially applied myoelectrically controlled FES in a task-oriented approach and robotic therapy for the recovery of upper limb in post-stroke patients: A randomized controlled pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Functional recovery of the plegic upper limb in post-stroke patients may be enhanced by sequentially applying a myoelectrically controlled FES (MeCFES), which allows the patient to voluntarily control the muscle contraction during a functional movement, and robotic therapy which allows many repetitions of movements. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the efficacy of MeCFES followed by robotic therapy compared to standard care arm rehabilitation for post-stroke patients. METHODS: Eighteen stroke subjects (onset ⩾ 3 months, age 60.1 ± 15.5) were recruited and randomized to receive an experimental combination of MeCFES during task-oriented reaching followed by robot therapy (MRG) or same intensity conventional rehabilitation care (CG) aimed at the recovery of the upper limb (20 sessions/45 minutes). Change was evaluated through Fugl-Meyer upper extremity (FMA-UE), Reaching Performance Scale and Box and Block Test. RESULTS: The experimental treatment resulted in higher improvement on the FMA-UE compared with CG (P= 0.04), with a 10-point increase following intervention. Effect sizes were moderate in favor of the MRG group on FMA-UE, FMA-UE proximal and RPS (0.37-0.56). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary findings indicate that a combination of MeCFES and robotic treatment may be more effective than standard care for recovery of the plegic arm in persons > 3 months after stroke. The mix of motor learning techniques may be important for successful rehabilitation of arm function.

Unilateral arm rehabilitation for persons with multiple sclerosis using serious games in a virtual reality approach: Bilateral treatment effect?

IMPAIRED: arm function and loss of manual dexterity can lead to decreased independence in activities of daily living in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). In this study we verified the feasibility and efficacy of a serious games approach to supervised upper limb rehabilitation of the more affected arm in persons with MS and the cross-over effect to the nontreated arm. METHODS: Eighteen persons with moderate to severe MS symptoms participated (mean age 56.1 (range 28-73) years; mean disease duration 17.6 (4-35) years). Each participant received 12 supervised sessions of serious games (45 min, 12 sessions) aimed at improving the most affected upper limb. Primary outcomes were the Nine Hole Peg Test (9HPT) and the Box and Blocks Test (BBT). Perceived health was evaluated pre and post intervention with SF-12 and the VAS of the EuroQual-5DL. Non parametric tests were used and P was set at 0.05. RESULTS: After the serious games training participants improved dexterity and arm function bilaterally (10-18%), however, there was a statistically significant improvement only in the treated arm (P<0.05). Perceived menthal health improved follwing training (P<0.05) but not perceived physical health. CONCLUSION: An in clinic intervention with a serious-games virtual reality approach positively influenced arm recovery in persons moderately to severely affected by MS, improving mainly the treated arm but with positive effects on the nontreated arm. The persons were motivated during the intervention and expressed being willing to continue this kind of training at home as part of continuity of care.