Rehab

"Researchers from the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Melbourne, Australia have shown that an individualized rehabilitation program reduces disability in persons with MS compared to no intervention. Analysis of data from 98 patients (treatment n=48, control n=50) showed reduced disability in the treatment group, with statistically significant differences in some of the post-treatment scores for the two groups ( p<.001). In the treated group 70.8% improved, compared with 13% of the controls. Significantly more patients in the control group deteriorated over the study period (58.7% versus 16.7%: p<.001)."

Taken from the MS Society of Canada wesite, www.mssociety.ca, July 7th, 2008.

This is interesting. I've been asking why not? for years and now I have proof that we should be doing rehabilitation therapy rather than just occupational therapy.

A related article details how a joystick, like one from a computer game can help with rehab post stroke. Again, why not for MS patients?

I have posted about this subject before, most recently last winter when I learned more about neural plasticity and regeneration. Incredible results have been achieved with stroke victims. I believe the same may hold true for those of us with MS.

S.