Physical rehabilitation and quality of life in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory and degenerative disease of young people, which affects life quality, with social and psychological effects. The new era of treatments in MS, with drugs influencing immunomodulatory systems made possible a new approach of these patients, in efforts to make them capable to perform their activities as much as possible. Physical rehabilitation is an important mean for making patients with MS to accept their disease and to favourise their independence longer time. Patients should be encouraged to perform daily, or at least 2-3 times a week, a programme of physical exercises under the supervision of a specialist. Performing exercises in MS leads to a lot of benefits, not only physical ones, but also psychological ones and for overall health and finally to quality of life improvement. Physical therapy should be combined with psychological support, for limitation of negative impact of a chronic disease in young people. We must not forget that depression, anxiety, and in late stages of the disease, cognitive decline can interfere with life quality, so it is necessary to manage in a correct way all these aspects.