September 21, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Rehabilitation in progressive MS found to help cognitive function Two non-pharmacological rehabilitation approaches ā one using a computer program designed to improve working memory and the other involving standardized cognitive-behavioral group sessions ā both improved the cognitive function of people with progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study reported. While varying medications often are used as…
August 2, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Vagus Nerve Stimulation Boosts Motor Learning in Mouse Model Providing electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve, a large nerve that plays important roles in modulating nonconscious bodily processes like digestion and heart rate, can improve motor learning in mice, a new study shows. The approach specifically helped the animals learn motor tasks faster and achieve better performance levels in…
August 20, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS PoNS Stimulation Device for MS Gait Problems Due in US Next Year PoNS, a non-invasive devise to accompany physical therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with difficulty walking, will be available on the U.S. market early next year, its developer, Helius Medical Technologies, announced in a quarterly financial update. Short for Portable Neuromodulation Stimulator, the PoNS…
January 4, 2021 News by Aisha I Abdullah PhD Mentally Overestimating Motor Tasks May Cause Cognitive Fatigue in MS People with multiple sclerosis (MS) tend to mentally overestimate the time required to complete a short walking activity, causing cognitive fatigue that may affect their quality of life, a study reports. The connection between cognitive fatigue and imagined motor exercises may offer a potential…
November 19, 2020 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Progressive MS Focus of EMSP Virtual Meeting Open to All Starting Today Progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) is the focus of the 2020 virtualĀ European Multiple Sclerosis Platform (EMSP)Ā annual meeting that runs though Friday, Nov. 20. Registration is free for the two-dayĀ conference. Those interested in participating can registerĀ here. According to a EMSP press release, topics to be discussed include the most…
August 11, 2020 News by InĆŖs Martins, PhD PoNS Device Under Review by FDA for Treating Walking Problems in MS Helius Medical Technologies has filed an application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking for de novo classification and clearance of itsĀ portable neuromodulation stimulator (PoNS) device for the treatment of walking deficits in multiple…
June 25, 2020 News by David Melamed, PhD Walking Patterns of MS Patients Studied to Reduce Risk of Falling People with multiple sclerosis (MS) exert increased caution with their walking pattern and take smaller steps overall, a study shows. These findings could contribute to the development of better walking rehabilitation programs and decrease the risk of falls. The study, “Influence of Multiple Sclerosis on Dynamic…
April 27, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD US Grants Patent to MedRhythmsā Proprietary Audio Engine Used in Walking Therapy Products The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a patent covering the intellectual rights to MedRhythmsā proprietary audio engine, a core component of the companyās rhythmic sound products designed to improve the walking ability of adult patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological disorders. The…
April 7, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Specialist Inpatient Rehabilitation Cost-effective for MS Patients in UK, Particularly in Advanced Disease Specialist inpatient rehabilitation is a cost-effective strategy that can improve the clinical outcomes of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), particularly those at more advanced stages of the disease, a study in the United Kingdom (U.K.) found. The study, āCost-efficiency of specialist inpatient rehabilitation for adults with…
April 2, 2020 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Regular Exercise ‘Strongly Recommended’ to Ease Fatigue in MS Physical exercise can ease fatigue in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and potentially benefit them in many other ways, and should be part of rehabilitation programs for patients, a large review study suggests. The study,Ā “The impact of physical exercise on the fatigue symptoms in patients with…
February 21, 2020 News by Margarida Azevedo, MSc Spanish Modified Story Memory Technique Improves Cognitive Performance in Mexican Patients with MS, Study Says The Spanish version of the modified Story Memory Technique improves learning and life satisfaction of Mexican patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new study suggests.Ā The tool, developed by the Kessler Foundation, has the potential to address the lack of cognitive rehabilitation interventions that are culturally…
February 7, 2020 Columns by John Connor This Story Has Legs ā One Leg, At Least! This is the story of how I became a patient columnist. Three years ago, I was still walking. Shambling, anyway. I could get up and down stairs but had to rest before reaching my ordinary car with fitted hand controls. To go somewhere on my own, I needed someone to…
January 22, 2020 News by Mary Chapman Pilot Study Participant Helping Test Exoskeleton Device for MS Therapy Encouraged by Results Since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) 20 years ago, Kathy Miskaās ability to walk has steadily worsened, especially in recent years. As a participant of a pilot study at the Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis, however, she is cheered by the effect of…
January 20, 2020 News by Iqra Mumal, MSc Clinical Trial of Rhythmic Sound in Walking Rehab for MS Planned, MedRhythms Says MedRhythmsĀ is planning to soon open a pilot clinical trial to assess the safety and efficacy of its MR-004, its investigational product that uses rhythmic sounds to improve walking abilities in people withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS), the company announced. The randomized and controlled trial, fully support by a grant…
October 1, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD FeetMe Raises ā¬9.4M to Advance Gait and Posture Technology for Patients with Movement Disorders FeetMe, a medical device company dedicated to the development of devices and digital health services to improve patientsā mobility, has raised ā¬9.4 million ($10.25 million) in Series A fundingĀ to boost the commercialization of its innovative technology for clinical trials and regular clinical practice in hospitals and…
July 29, 2019 News by Ana Pena PhD $1.83M NIH Grant Supports Trial into STEM, Learning and Memory Training for Adults with MS The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded a $1.83 million grant to aĀ Kessler Foundation researcher leading a clinical trial to test if a month-long cognitive training program can improve learning and memory in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS). Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, director of the Centers…
July 25, 2019 Columns by Tamara Sellman Need to Know: How Does Occupational Therapy Help People with MS? Editor’s note: “Need to Knowā is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum.Ā This week’s question is inspired by the forum topicĀ “How Occupational Therapy Is Improving My MS Home Life” from April 15, 2018.
June 25, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS New Jersey Health Foundation Awards $70,000 to Kessler Foundation Researchers Studying MS and Stroke Two researchers at Kessler Foundation were awarded grants of $35,000 each by the New Jersey Health Foundation to pursue their investigations into new ways to improve rehabilitative care for disabilities caused by multiple sclerosis (MS) and stroke. One of the awardees…
April 4, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS CMSC Announces Technology Contests to Improve MS Patients’ Quality Of Life TheĀ Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) announced two contests that will be featured at itsĀ Annual Meeting, May 28āJune 1 in Seattle, Washington. The contests, calledĀ āDesign for Rehabilitation ā Take the Challenge” and “CMSC Neuroinnovator,ā are aimed at creating new technologies to improve the quality of…
February 6, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein Traditional Dysphagia Therapy Improves Swallowing Function in MS Patients, Pilot Study Shows Rehabilitation using traditional dysphagia therapy improved swallowing function in multiple sclerosis patients with dysphagia, a pilot study shows. The research article with that finding, āThe effect of traditional dysphagia therapy on the swallowing function in patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A pilot double-blinded randomized controlled trialā was…
January 24, 2019 News by Jonathan Grinstein New Products Intended to Stimulate Feet of MS Patients Naboso TechnologyĀ has expanded its product offerings with new insoles and training mats specifically designed to stimulate the nervous system through the skin on the bottom of the feet. The products were developed to help improve balance, posture, movement and restore motor function, as part of aĀ neurorehabilitation strategy…
December 14, 2018 News by Santiago Gisler Researchers Develop Smartphone-connected Device to Treat MS, Brain Disorders Remotely Researchers at the Ural Federal University (UrFU) in Russia have developed a neuro-electrostimulation system that has the potential to treat different types of brain disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS). The system allows physicians to treat patients by remotely controlling the delivered electric pulse through a smartphone or tablet. Details…
September 21, 2018 News by Diogo Pinto Processing Speed Training May Help Improve Cognitive Function in MS Patients, Pilot Study Suggests A brain training technique that helps boost processing speed was seen to significantly improve the cognitive capacity of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, as well as their ability to perform everyday activities, a pilot study shows. The study, āA Pilot Study Examining Speed of Processing Training (SPT) to Improve…
May 7, 2018 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Mavenclad Analysis, Ocrevus and Vaccines, an MS Rehab Technique, a Cattle Toxin and MS Mavenclad Effective in Treating Highly Active MS, New CLARITY Analysis Shows Mavenclad isn’t approved for use in the U.S. but it is approved in Canada, Europe, and other parts of the world. Here’s another positive study of the therapy. Hopefully, it won’t be much longer before Americans…
April 30, 2018 News by Diogo Pinto Rehabilitation Technique Improves Limb Movement in MS Patients, Phase 2 Trial Shows Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), a rehabilitation technique originally developed for stroke patients, may also be effective in improving limb use in the daily activities of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, results from a Phase 2 trial show. Findings were reported in the study, āPhase II Randomized Controlled Trial of…
April 2, 2018 News by Patricia Silva, PhD FDA Clears Mobile App for Use with L300 Go System Created to Help with Walking and Gait The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently cleared the myBioness mobile app, designed by Bioness, to be used with the L300 Go SystemĀ to improve muscle strength in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) or other conditions that affect walking. The L300 Go System is approvedĀ to help…
February 6, 2018 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Balance, Sensory Stimulation Exercises Can Improve MS Symptoms, BEEMS Program Shows A specially tailored program focused on balance and eye-movement exercises can help multiple sclerosis (MS) patients improve balance, dizziness, fatigue, and quality of life, according to a…
February 5, 2018 News by Jose Marques Lopes, PhD MS Society Calls Attention to Recent Research into Gait and Movement Problems Difficulties with walking and balance are common among people with multiple sclerosis and strongly affect their quality of life ā even when disease progression may not be evident on scans or other measures of MS advance, according to research presented at a meeting last fall and recently reviewed by theĀ National…
August 10, 2017 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Botulinum Toxin Treats MS Spasticity, But Support and Rehab Seen as Crucial to Long-term Use Spasticity in multiple sclerosis patients can be eased through a combination of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) injections and rehabilitation. However, caregiver support is required to keep patients on this treatment, according to results of a retrospective analysis. Spasticity, a muscle control disorder characterized by tight or stiff muscles, is a major MS symptom. The condition is significantly detrimental to patientsā quality of life, affecting their general mobility and balance. Several oral anti-spasticity drugs are available. However, ātreatment of spasticity in MS is frequently challenging because of the complex clinical picture and the undesired effects associated with oral therapy, such as fatigue, dizziness, and hypotension,ā the researchers wrote. Previous studies show that BoNT-A, a toxin that blocks nerve activity in muscles, is an effective therapy for the management of MS-related spasticity. The long-term effectiveness and persistence of BoNT-A use in patients with MS-related spasticity, however, remains poorly investigated. The research team in Italy proposed āto investigate the long-term persistence to treatment with BoNT-A for MS-related spasticity and the determinants of BoNT-A discontinuation in daily clinical setting.ā In total, the researchers reviewed data from 185 patients, out of which 121 were considered in their final analysis. They observed that, at the end of the follow-up period, 44% of the patients in the analysis were still being treated with BoNT-A, but 56% had discontinued treatment. Overall, these results āconfirm the beneficial effect of combining BoNT-A injections with rehabilitation and highlights the crucial role of caregivers for achieving better long-term outcomes in people with MS suffering from spasticity,ā the team concluded.
August 3, 2017 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Resistance Training Can Slow MS Patients’ Brain Shrinkage, Clinical Trial Indicates Resistance training like weight lifting can protect or even regenerate the nerve cells of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients, slowing the progression of the disease, according to a clinical trial. A hallmark of MS is the brain shrinking faster than normal, and findings from this trial indicates that resistance training can slow the shrinking or even make some brain areas grow. Research has shown that physical training benefits MS patients, helping them alleviate many symptoms, including excessive fatigue and balance control problems. Recent studies suggest that exercise can have a disease-modifying role in MS. This means physical activity can be an important adjuvant, or add-on therapy, for standard-of-care regimens. Researchers followed 35 patients with relapsing-remitting MS for 24 weeks. Eighteen patients did resistance training twice a week, consisting of four lower- and two upper-body exercises. The other 17 patients struck with their normal routines. Before and after the 24 weeks, doctors took magnetic resonance imaging scans, or MRIs, to evaluate patients' brain structures. After the 24 weeks, the scans showed less brain shrinkage in those who had resistance training. Some of their cortical brain regions were also thicker ā an indication they were growing. It is not clear why exercise benefits MS patients' brains, nor if exercise has the same effect on all patients. Additional studies are needed to clarify its therapeutic effect, the researchers said. That knowledge could help improve current MS therapies.