World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

THE EFFECT OF PHYSICAL THERAPY ON FUNCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

Lamis Alghamdi*, Abdulrahman Dallak, Wehad Aldhowayan, Aminah Alharbi, Fayez Almufarriji, Arwa Al mustanyir, Mohammed Albarqawi, Nouf Alharbi, Fatima Aljalidi

ABSTRACT

Physical therapy plays an important role in providing care to patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) across different disease stages. In early MS, it is focused on identifying at-risk people and encouraging them to engage in health maintenance behaviors. In persons with ambulatory MS, physical therapy promotes task-oriented practice and exercise, incorporates functional rehabilitation into individualized interventions, and educates individuals about self-management. In late-stage MS, physical therapy manages symptoms that impact function, including contractures and secondary changes in body mechanics that cause pain. For all individuals with MS, part of the role of physical therapy is to offer education about the need for, and types of, exercise to avoid complications of inactivity and sedentariness, and also to provide education regarding self-management and coping strategies. Although evidence suggests that physical therapy interventions are beneficial early in the disease course and that exercise is beneficial in all stages of MS, ongoing research will guide clinical practice in the future.

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