April 2, 2024 Columns by Ahna Crum Learning to walk for the umpteenth time with multiple sclerosis Iāve lost count of the number of times Iāve had to relearn how to walk. Learning to walk is a milestone accomplishment. But as you age, life finds ways to knock you down. Injuries, sprains, or broken bones may keep you immobile while you’re waiting for your body to recover.
March 22, 2024 News by Mary Chapman Neural Sleeve walking aid for MS now available at 3 Colorado centers Note: This story was updated March 22, 2024, to note Neural Sleeve is now licensed to ship to 47 states.Ā Ā Cionic has added three neurological medical centers to its national Centers of Excellence program as part of its continuing effort to expand the availability of its Neural Sleeve…
August 17, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Pilates with relaxation improves walking, self-awareness in MS Pilates exercise with a relaxation technique improved walking abilities and self-awareness among people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a small study. The study, “Impact of Pilates suspension with self-awareness on gait and metacognition in multiple sclerosis: Randomized, single-blinded and parallel-group trial,” was published in…
August 14, 2023 News by Steve Bryson, PhD Walking loss more rapid among marginalized MS patients in US People with multiple sclerosis (MS) with a rapid decline in walking abilities were more likely to be older when first examined, female, or Black, according to a large data study in the U.S. Other factors associated with worsening walking impairment over time included living with MS longer, having progressive…
May 8, 2023 News by Lindsey Shapiro, PhD Home-based walking program may boost cognition in MS: Pilot study A four-month home-based aerobic walking program was feasible and may help improve cognitive function for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, according to data from a recent pilot study funded by the Kessler Foundation. Findings from this small study support the design of a randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate…
August 4, 2022 Columns by Benjamin Hofmeister How My MS Diagnosis Journey Became My Origin Story If I were a superhero (or a supervillain, for that matter), Iād have an origin story. As it stands, Iām not even a minor hero in real life, and only a mediocre one when appearing in my own stories. Iām just a guy with multiple sclerosis, and all I…
May 27, 2022 Columns by John Connor How I Get Through My Days ā More Importantly, Please Tell Me How You Get Through Yours Todayās youth have to accumulate a range of skills. Everything changes so fast. Parents often have no idea what career their kids even want to follow. Do you know what a UX designer is? Me, neither. This latest social change was revealed to me in a recent Guardian article,…
March 9, 2022 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Roche and UK University Team Up to Test Floodlight App Effectiveness Roche is teaming up with the University of Plymouth in the U.K. to help develop Floodlight MS, the company’s app to monitor multiple sclerosis (MS). “We were pleased to collaborate with Roche on an innovative project to validate the Floodlight MS app and, as with everything we do…
September 3, 2021 Columns by Ed Tobias With MS, a New Pair of Shoes Makes a Big Difference I wish I could walk a mile in my shoes, but even with a new pair, that’s not going to happen. My MS limits me to about 100 steps while using two canes and a functional electrical stimulation device strapped under my left knee. Because walking is so difficult,…
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…
May 27, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Immersive Virtual Reality May Improve Treadmill Gait Training Immersive virtual reality may make treadmill exercise more engaging and effective for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) or other conditions that can make walking difficult, according to new research. The findings were published in theĀ Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, in the study “Immersive virtual reality…
March 31, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Machine Learning of Walking Patterns Could Help Predict MS Progression A machine learning-based method that examines walking abnormalities in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) could help identify patients who are at high risk of worsening symptoms, a study suggests. The study, “Predicting Multiple Sclerosis from Gait Dynamics Using an Instrumented Treadmill ā A Machine Learning Approach,”…
March 29, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS PoNS Device to Help Adults in Rehab for Walking Problems Gets FDA Approval The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the use of a medical device called Portable Neuromodulation StimulatorĀ or PoNS as a short-term treatment for walking difficulties in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). PoNS, developed by Helius Medical Technologies, is a non-invasive medical device…
January 12, 2021 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Helius Provides More Information to FDA About PoNS Device Helius Medical Technologies has submitted its response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s request for more information about the company’s application for de novoĀ classification and clearance of its portable neuromodulation stimulator (PoNS) device to help treat walking difficulties in people…
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…
August 31, 2020 News by Forest Ray PhD MS Patients Using Cooling Vests Show Significant Exercise Gains in Small Study Wearing a cooling vest significantly improved the time and distance walked under conditions that can provoke heat sensitivity in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a small study. The study, “Effects of a cooling vest with sham condition on walking capacity in heat-sensitive people with…
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…
July 31, 2020 News by Marta Figueiredo, PhD Order Seen in Motor Skills Affected by MS, With Walking Taking First Hit Walking abilities decline earlier and faster than arm and hand function in people recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosisĀ (MS), particularly those withĀ progressive MS (MS), a study showed. These findings, which are consistent with those reported in a previous natural history study called NARCOMS, suggest an ascending order of…
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…
June 23, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD Adamas Stopping Further Work on ADS-5102 for Walking Problems in MS Adamas PharmaceuticalsĀ has decided to stop further clinical development of ADS-5102 (amantadine), intended to help people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have difficulties with walking. The decision came after the company reviewed findings from a comprehensive analysis of…
May 14, 2020 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD FDA Grants Breakthrough Device Designation to Helius’ PoNS Device The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough device designation to Helius Medical Technologiesā portable neuromodulation stimulator (PoNS) for the treatment of walking impairments in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The device, which is meant to be used…
April 16, 2020 News by Mary Chapman Fampyra, Aid for Walking, Favored for Inclusion in NHS Scotland After being rejected twice in the last four years, Fampyra (fampridine; marketed as Ampyra in the U.S.) is now being recommended by the Scottish Medicines ConsortiumĀ (SMC) for use in the country’sĀ National Health System (NHS) to treat walking disabilities in adults withĀ multiple sclerosis (MS). Scotland…
March 17, 2020 News by David Melamed, PhD Virtual Reality Test Can Detect Subtle Balance Issues in MS Patients A new test involving a virtual reality simulation was able to detect balance issues in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), potentially allowing doctors to identify whether a patient is at risk of falling despite having no apparent problems with walking, according to new research. The results of the study,…
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…
December 17, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Einstein Researchers Receive Grant to Study Brain Activity Related to Fall Risk in MS Patients A grantĀ awarded recently by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will fund research to explore how brain changes in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients affect mobility. The five-year grant (1R01NS109023-01A1), totaling $3.5 million, was awarded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, part of…
August 9, 2019 News by Marisa Wexler, MS Music While Walking Makes MS Patients More Motivated and Less Mentally Drained, Study Suggests People listening to music during an extended walk tend to sync their steps to its beat ā and forĀ those with multiple sclerosis (MS), such synchronization helps to overcome mental fatigue and improve motivation, a study found. “Continuous 12 min walking to music, metronomes and in silence:…
May 9, 2019 News by Joana Carvalho, PhD #AANAM ā Adamas Provides Update on Phase 3 INROADS Trial Testing ADS-5102 for MS Adamas Pharmaceuticals announced the study design and baseline characteristics of patients enrolling in the company’s ongoing Phase 3 trialĀ testing the efficacy and safety of ADS-5102 (amantadine) extended-release capsules in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have difficulty walking. The data were presented in a poster,…
March 25, 2019 Columns by Ed Tobias MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Walking Med Trial Recruiting, DMT Risk Tolerance, Sex and MS Phase 3 Trial of ADS-5102 Recruiting Participants of All MS Types This medication is similar to Ampyra (dalfampridine) because its goal is to improve walking in those with MS. It sure would be nice if we had another medication approved that could do that. Though this trial began recruiting…
March 8, 2019 News by Patricia Inacio, PhD Daily Cup of Flavonoid-rich Cocoa May Help Ease MS Fatigue A daily cup of flavonoid-rich cocoa may help ease fatigue in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), according to the results of a small clinical trial. The study āA randomised double-blind placebo-controlled feasibility trial of flavonoid-rich cocoa for fatigue in people with relapsing and remitting multiple sclerosisā was…
February 1, 2019 News by Alice MelĆ£o, MSc Study Shows Benefits of Low Temperature Exercise for MS Patients Reducing body temperature during physical exercise can help rewire the brain and improve motor control in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a new research study at Canada’sĀ Memorial University shows. Physical exercise can have several benefits for patients with MS, including improved strength and reduced symptoms of fatigue and…