Multidisciplinary rehabilitation for adults with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders: A pilot study

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of multidisciplinary rehabilitation for patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders who have moderate to severe disability. In 39 patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, disability was assessed after 4 weeks of rehabilitation and 3 months of follow-up. In the patients who underwent multidisciplinary rehabilitation, bowel and bladder and motor functions (pyramidal and walking function) were improved compared with those with usual care. These results confirm the shortterm effectiveness of multidisciplinary rehabilitation in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders in terms of improving impairment. The results also suggest that multidisciplinary rehabilitation is a safe and feasible therapy for adults with neuromyelitis optica who have severe disability. Objective: To provide detailed data on the effects of multidisciplinary rehabilitation for patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder with moderate to severe disability. Design: A pilot randomized control study. Subjects/patients: A total of 39 patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder were randomized into intervention or control groups. Methods: The intervention group received multidisciplinary rehabilitation 5 times/week for 4 weeks in a hospital, and the patients were guided to continue community-or home-based rehabilitation for 3 months. The control group did not receive any specific rehabilitation intervention. Disability was assessed using the Extended Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and Functional Systems (FS) scores after 4 weeks of rehabilitation and 3 months of follow-up. Results: The mean EDSS score was 7.5 at admission for both groups. Improvements (p<0.05) in the EDSS score and domains of bowel, bladder and motor functions (pyramidal and walking function) were noted in the multidisciplinary rehabilitation group after 4 weeks. After 3 months, the patients in the usual care group showed improvement in EDSS score and walking ability score; however, no significant changes in other variables were noted. Conclusion: These results suggest that multidisciplinary rehabilitation potentially promotes motor functional recovery in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders.

The Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Core Stability Training on the Balance and Disability of Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

“…Therefore, there is no literature in this regard. However, concerning the impact of physical exercise on disability, the results of this section are in line with those of Suo et al [35], Khadem Al-sharia et al [36], and Soltani et al 2019) investigated the impact of a rehabilitation plan on neuromyelitis optica (an inflammatory disease that targets the optic nerves and spinal cord) and found out that physical disability of these patients was considerably improved.…”

Effects of assigning physical therapists exclusively to the acute-phase stroke patient ward

“…We considered that these results are due to the fact that the PT work exclusively in the ward, which enables close communication and increase the attention of the hospitalized patients to their motor functions. Moreover, many previous studies have reported that interactive communication plays an important role in improving patient outcomes 11 , 12 , 13 ) . In particular, physicians and medical social workers need to communicate well to shorten patients’ length of hospital stay (i.e., the period until they are discharged to their home or transferred to another hospital).…”

“…In particular, physicians and medical social workers need to communicate well to shorten patients’ length of hospital stay (i.e., the period until they are discharged to their home or transferred to another hospital). Previous studies have reported that collaborations with interdisciplinary medical staff members are useful for improving the ADL level in patients 13 , 14 , 15 ) . Good communication and appropriate information sharing are important when multidisciplinary medical staff members are involved in patient care.…”

Experiences of social isolation among patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder in China: A qualitative study

“…However, in an MS case studies, multidisciplinary rehabilitation and fatigue management courses were found to improve functional levels and social participation (George and White, 2014). In a study of NMOSD, patients had improved bladder function and motor function and less fatigue after receiving multidisciplinary rehabilitation (Suo et al, 2019). However, the study only involved 4 weeks of intervention and 3 months of follow-up.…”