Article

Objective: To investigate the effect of an eight-week home-based physiotherapy
programme in reducing physical impairment, disability and psychological distress
for people with moderate to severe multiple sclerosis (MS). Design: Pilot
randomized controlled trial. Setting: Community; subjects' homes. Subjects:
Thirty people moderately to severely affected by MS (Extended Disability Status
Score, EDSS, 6.5-8) were randomized to an intervention or control group.
Intervention: The intervention group received twice weekly, home-based
physiotherapy for eight weeks and the control group received usual care. Main
measures: The following outcome measures were recorded at baseline,
post-intervention (Week 8) and at follow-up (Week 16). Primary outcome measure;
Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS29) and secondary outcome measures assessed
physical impairment, MS symptoms, quality of life, mood, and disability. Results:
Although the Group * Time interaction failed to reach statistical significance
with MSIS29 (p = 0.925), MS - related symptom checklist (MS-RS) (p = 0.627) and
for lower limb strength, right knee extension (p = 0.375) and right knee flexion
(p = 0.794), there is more evidence of altered levels in the treatment group than
in the control group. Conclusion: A minimum of 58 subjects per group are required
to achieve a power of 80% at the 5% level of significance based on the MSIS29. A
larger scale study is required.

Langue : ANGLAIS