Physiotherapy, delivered as part of a multidisciplinary team approach, provides a range of benefits, from improving physical health to enhancing quality of life, for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
More on MS and physiotherapy:
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, degenerative neurological disease which is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 20-40, affecting women more than men in a ratio of 2.5:1.
Typically MS involves a series of relapses and prognosis is unpredictable, although a small proportion of people with MS (15%) have a steady progression of disability.
Some people with MS can develop complex patterns of disability affecting physical and social function.
Problems with mobility, balance, fatigue and spasticity are common.
Physiotherapists provide a unique contribution to the management of people with MS through the improvement and maintenance of functional abilities and management of the long term symptoms.
Physiotherapists provide specific rehabilitation programs, facilitate self management and coordinate care.
For people with more complex needs physiotherapy should where possible be delivered within a multidisciplinary specialist team/service where regular evaluation and assessment can be provided.
There is evidence that multidisciplinary rehabilitation can improve levels of activity and participation levels of people with MS.
- An estimated 100,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with MS
- MS is the ‘major cause of nontraumatic disability in young adults’
- 100-120 people per 100,000 in the UK are affected; Scotland has a much higher prevalence
- In 2009-10, 24,622 people were admitted to hospital in England with MS as a primary diagnosis, with associated treatment costs of £23.5 million.
Why should physiotherapists be involved in management from the start?
- The majority of people diagnosed with MS are in employment, but 50% leave their jobs within a decade of diagnosis
- ‘The societal costs associated with early retirement exceeds those of health and social care’
- The health care and social services costs are about £17,000 per person diagnosed, rising to over £25,000 when the lost employment costs are included. This amounts to £2.5 billion a year
- 73% of hospital admissions for MS in 2009 - 10 were day cases costing a total of £8.3m. 27% were in-patient stays with an average length of stay of 12.5 days costing over £500 per day.
The greatest potential for central nervous system adaptation and recovery occurs in the early stages of the disease.
Physiotherapy intervention and advice early after diagnosis can reduce disability, maximise potential for independence, improve employment sustainability and reduce the impact that the disease has on health and quality of life factors.
Physiotherapy Intervention
There is a strong body of evidence demonstrating that exercise used as part of a rehabilitation programme can increase activity and improve the health and well-being of people with MS.
In addition there is an emerging body of evidence to say that physiotherapists, as part of a specialist neurorehabilitative service, have a key role in managing specific symptoms of MS including pain, spasticity and the prevention of secondary complications such as contracture.
Results from randomised controlled clinical trials of exercise programmes in MS have demonstrated benefits in muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness, aerobic thresholds and activity levels and functional improvements, such as walking ability.
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Exercise is generally highly valued by patients who report improvements in mood and quality of life.
Case study
Over a six month period, the introduction of a physiotherapy led community multidisciplinary team in Newcastle resulted in a decrease in GP and hospital consultant visits and reduced the hospital bed days in the 38 people with MS.
The direct cost of the multidisciplinary team was offset by this saving however the service reduced the inappropriate use of inpatient beds.
No firm conclusions could be drawn about the effectiveness of the team but survey evidence showed a high degree of patient satisfaction with the team.
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