MS Intervention Flashcards
What is important to prioritize when writing PT diagnosis for people with MS?
their problems (balance, weakness, fatigue, falls, gait, speed, outcome measure scores)
What are some common MS outcome measures?
- 12 item MS walking scale
- 6 min walk test
- 9 hole peg test
- berg balance
- dizziness handicap inventory
- MS functional composite
- MS impact scale
- MS quality of life
- TUG
Modifiable risk factors for MS
smoking, exercise
What does increased fatigue cause in MS patients?
- RPE and HR max is lower than most patients
- as PTs we are worried about heat and how it makes the symptoms worse
Anyone with an autoimmune disease should receive _______?
vaccinations
** make sure they communicate with their Drs to ensure the vaccinations they are getting is safe for them to receive
PTs help with deficits but also educate on ______
symptom management
Triggers to avoid with MS
- lack of sleep
- stress
- over activity
- heat
- childbirth
- staying healthy
- low vitamin D
Relapse education
- UTIs are common and may even cause relapses
- replapses reduce cognitive function
- if relapse is significant, advise patient to seek medical treatment
- tell patient you are going to reduce activity for 2 weeks (you don’t have to complete cut out activity, but decrease the amount/intensity and watch for S/S)
Medical interventions for patients with MS
disease modifying therapies (DMT) which reduce the progression of the disease and reduce exacerbations
1. infusions
2. medications
3. oral injections
One DMT is interferon β therapy, what does it do?
helps reduce the inflammation in diseases/cancer which, if started early, will reduce the progression and reduce exacerbations of MS
- some interferon β are lab made by labs
- some interferon β are made by white blood cells
Direct role of a PT for MS:
intervention, education, adherence
- muscular exercise
- cardiovascular activity
- fatigue education
- function & balance training
- prevention
Education on prevention for MS
all autoimmune diseases have a risk of cancer because of the increased inflammation so education on staying as healthy as possible, especially during remission is important
Why do balance and function training with MS patients?
they have decreased somatosensory so you want to decrease fall risk
Why is cardiovascular activity important for patients with MS?
it is important to help patients increase their HR and cardiovascular function because it helps reduce inflammation and increases the amount of myelin in the body
** aerobic activity increases myelin
The framework for movement:
the interaction between the task/goal, the environment, and the individual
MS related fatigue is caused by?
due to immune activation
- glial cells and mitochondrial damage account for the severe levels of intractable fatigue in MS
Types of fatigue in MS?
chronic persistent fatigue = > 6 weeks for 50% of the time
acute fatigue = recent onset
** always asses BP, HR, fatigue level, and symptoms
What are some secondary causes of fatigue in MS?
medications, stress, weather, depression
Strategies for fatigue
- LE weakness = strengthen
- respiratory system fatigue = aerobic activity
- environmental stress = modifications
Education strategies for fatigue
- stop smoking!
- encourage midday nap/rest (10-30 mins, breathing to allow for perfusion to brain)
- adjust activity levels
- well balance low fat diet (MAYBE?? fatty diets increased myelin in rats)
- drink cool liquids (reduces myelin loss)
Considerations in exercise for MS
exercise does NOT increase the disease process
- increases in core temp can lead to a transitory increase in clinical S/S of MS (weakness, fatigue, visual Sx.)
- it was previously thought that exercise would cause MS exacerbation or worsen the disease activity
- cooling vests help a lot
Why is exercise important for patients with MS?
physically fit patients had fewer lesions and if they did they were smaller compared to those who weren’t fit
- spares the cognitive status of the patient
- have better brain functioning
Remyelinatin: motor learning
motor learning enhances the ability of oligodendrocytes to generate additional myelin and maintain preexisting sheaths
–> work at the cellular level makes changes from within to increase myelin
Remyelination: aerobic fitness
aerobic fitness is associated with less damaged brain tissue in BOTH gray and white matter
–> targeting younger patients can help with the overall outcomes because they are more hopeful