Article

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common disabling neurological
condition affecting young adults. One third of people on an American registry of
people with MS (PWMS) reported having activities affected by spasticity. The
psychosocial effects of spasticity in people with MS have been shown to be
distressing and detrimental to emotional and social relationships when
investigated from a psychology perspective. This paper investigates the impact of
spasticity on the lives of people living with MS from a physiotherapeutic
perspective. This study involved 12 semi-structured interviews with
individuals experiencing MS-related spasticity. Ten sets of data were analyzed
following framework analysis principles. RESULTS: Results suggest spasticity
effects life experience of these PWMS in diverse and complex ways. Physical,
psychological and social consequences of spasticity are closely linked and can be
far reaching. CONCLUSIONS: Therapists need to be aware of links between specific
physical symptoms and their psychosocial consequences if they want to improve
peoples' quality of life. This paper provides in depth qualitative research
evidence for the complexity of the spasticity experience for each individual,
strengthening the argument for a patient-centred approach to treatment. These
results also support the case for targeted interventions with effectiveness
recorded in a patient-centred way. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: * Spasticity
is suggested here to affect the lives of individuals with multiple sclerosis in
diverse and far reaching ways. Therapists need to investigate this fully in
subjective assessment to impact on people's quality of life. * Direct links were
identified between treatable physical symptoms and far reaching consequences of
spasticity. * Knowledge about the complexity of the spasticity experience for
each individual will allow therapists to target interventions appropriately and
accurately record effectiveness in a patient-centred way.

Langue : ANGLAIS