Authors: Viorica Cun 1, Carmen Şerbescu 2, Mircea Chiriac 2, Liviu Lazăr 2
Affiliation:
1 Emanuel University of Oradea, Romania
2 University of Oradea, Romania
Abstract
Background. Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune, inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system that primarily affects the young adult. Characterized by a complex symptomatology, MS causes numerous physical and psychological disorders. Although many experimental studies confirm the usefulness of certain rehabilitation methods to reduce fatigue, pain and alleviate others symptoms, a complex and personalized protocol has not been practiced so far to ensure a significant improvement in the quality of life of people affected by MS.
Aims. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that a supplementation of the conventional physiotherapy (PT) program with a personalized and complex PT intervention during one year will improve the overall quality of life of MS patients, and subsequently will optimize and increase the efficiency of the conventional PT protocol.
Methods. In addition to a conventional PT program, the experimental group also benefited from a personalized and complex PT intervention for three months, 2 sessions/week, and for 9 months, 2 sessions/month, aimed to improve the quality of life: breathing exercises, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation techniques, massage techniques, cervical tractions, manual lymphatic drainage. To assess the quality of life, the 36 Items Short Form Survey (SF-36) was used.
Results. After three months, the improvement of the quality of life was not significant (p = 0.077), but it was at the end of the experiment, after 12 months (p = 0.031). In the control group, the quality of life score had a slightly decreasing trend but not significant.
Conclusions. The results obtained by applying the complex PT program, on a regular and weekly basis, can be attributed to the improvement of the quality of life of MS patients who participated in the research study. Rehabilitation of MS patients requires a complex approach throughout their life.
Keywords: multiple sclerosis, combined kinetic techniques, quality of life
English 
Română 
