But Their Ability To Access And Utilize That Care Is A Different Story
MS NEWS
Physiotherapy Is Recommended For All Individuals With MS
But Their Ability To Access And Utilize That Care Is A Different Story
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS ( MS ) AFFECTS the brain and spinal cord , which can limit certain functions such as coordination and movement . It is widely accepted in the medical community that people with MS should access physiotherapy to ensure the highest quality of life possible and to maintain physical function . In fact , the National MS Society recommends “ regular and ongoing physiotherapy input for people with MS throughout the course of the disease , starting at the point of diagnosis .”
Despite the benefit of this type of care for people with MS , some individuals with MS do not know how to access physiotherapy . Also , some people are not given the proper tools to start treatment plans early on . An Australia-based survey asked people with MS who were being treated at a large metropolitan hospital to share their experiences with physiotherapy as part of their treatment plan .
In 2020 , a 16-question survey was sent to individuals with MS . The questions asked about several topics , such as the following :
• Awareness of the availability of hospital-based MS physiotherapy services
• Use of physiotherapy services among respondents
• Self-reported symptoms of MS
The survey was sent to 597 people with MS , of whom 160 responded to all 16 questions . Of the respondents , 66.2 % reported challenges with fatigue , 60.1 % noted balance issues , and 82.2 % experienced at least one symptom relevant to physiotherapy treatment . Although 94.7 % of responses showed a preference for public health services , only 33.1 % were aware that their clinic offered hospital-based physiotherapy . Only 21.3 % consulted a physiotherapist within the clinic . Another 40.1 % sought private physiotherapy services . In total , 52 % of respondents contacted a physiotherapist .
The survey outcomes revealed that medical providers and clinicians should ensure that patients are aware of the availability of physiotherapy . To benefit from physiotherapy services , patients have to know they are available .
REFERENCES Jasin-Pathiranage , S ., Grech , L . B ., Scroggie , C ., & Sansom , P . ( 2024 ). Awareness and Utilization of Public Physiotherapy Health Care Services to Support People With Multiple Sclerosis : A Health Care Service Audit . International Journal of MS Care , 26 ( 1 ), 8 – 12 . https :// doi-org . ccmain . ohionet . org / 10.7224 / 1537-2073.2022-057 .
Can Digital Tools Like Levidex Make A Difference For Persons With Multiple Sclerosis ?
New evidence shows that people with MS may have symptom alleviation and function restoration through exercise training and nutritional factors . One digital tool , levidex , is an internet-based health behavior change intervention that attempts to improve MS outcomes through interactive training modules . A study assessed if levidex is making a positive impact on people with MS . The study included 43 levidex users over a period of 6 months . Study participants were between 18 and 65 , had been diagnosed with MS for at least a year , and were all considered to have moderate-to-severe MS . After enrolling in the study , participants ’ baseline
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