Comparison of Effectiveness of Ergotherapy in Different Types of Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Objective: To investigate and compare the effectiveness of ergotherapy in different types of multiple sclerosis (MS). Material and Methods: A total of 54 patients including 15 benign type (BMS), 18 relapsing remitting type (RRMS), 21 progressive type (PMS) MS patients were enrolled in the study. Patients were assessed with Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI), nine- hole Peg Test, Loewenstein Occupational Therapy Cognitive Assesment test material (LOTCA), Functional Independence Measurement (FIM) and Short Form 36 (SF 36). Ergotherapy program was applied two days a week, for 12 weeks depending on individual needs of the subjects. After ergotherapy program, effectiveness of treatment was assessed by comparing the patients having different types of MS. Results: RMI increased significantly in all groups with a minimum increase in BMS group. FIM total score and LOTCA test total results increased significantly after treatment in three groups. These improvements in cognitive skills were not found different among the groups although it was maximum in PMS group. Extremely significant improvements were found in picking and placing test of nine hole peg test for right and left hands in all groups after treatment. Although this difference in improvement was minimum in BMS group, a significant difference was not found among the groups. Physical component scale of SF-36 showed significant changes after treatment. When groups were compared, difference was found to be significant in RAMS group whencompared to other two groups. Significant changes were observed in mental component scale of SF-36 in all of three groups after treatment. This change was not found different among groups. Condusion: It was seen that ergotherapy had an important place in rehabilitation program and was effective for three types of MS disease although there were no significant differences among the groups in terms of effectiveness of ergotherapy.