scholarly journals Effects of Massage Therapy on Multiple Sclerosis: a Case Report

Author(s):  
Amy Frost-Hunt, RMT

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is characterized by degeneration of the myelin sheath of an axon resulting in decreased transmission of nerve impulses. It is an autoimmune disease with periods of exacerbation and remission. Types of MS include relapsing-remitting, acute progressive, chronic progressive attack-remitting, and benign. Symptoms vary from patient to patient. Common symptoms include fatigue, spasticity, swelling, and altered gait. MS is commonly treated with medications that help relieve symptoms and prolong disease progression. Massage Therapy (MT), specifically Swedish techniques, have been effective in treating MS. Objective: To examine the effects of MT on mobility, fatigue, and edema in a patient with MS. Methods: An MT student from MacEwan University’s 2,200-hour Massage Therapy program administered five MT treatments over a six-week period to a 58-year-old female diagnosed with MS 11 years earlier. She presented with symptoms of decreased mobility, fatigue, and left ankle edema. Assessment included active and passive range of motion (ROM), myotomes, dermatomes, reflexes, and orthopedic tests. Goals for the treatment sessions were to increase mobility, decrease fatigue, and decrease edema. Assessment measures included the Timed-Up-and-Go (TUG) test for mobility, the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) to measure fatigue, and Figure-8 ankle measurement to measure edema. Techniques used included Swedish massage, passive ROM, manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), and home-care exercises. Results: Little change was noted in mobility. The patient’s fatigue level and left ankle edema decreased. Conclusion: The results suggest that MT is effective in reducing fatigue and edema in a patient with MS. Future studies are needed to evaluate the correlation between mobility and massage.

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. 1220-1228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Calabrese ◽  
Francesca Rinaldi ◽  
Paola Grossi ◽  
Irene Mattisi ◽  
Valentina Bernardi ◽  
...  

Background: Fatigue is one of the most frequent symptoms suffered by patients affected by multiple sclerosis. The patho-physiological basis of multiple sclerosis-related fatigue remains to be elucidated. Objective: Our aim was to investigate whether a particular pattern of deep and/or cortical grey matter atrophy is associated with fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis. Methods: A total of 152 patients with relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis were evaluated with the Expanded Disability Status Scale, the Fatigue Severity Status Scale (FSS), the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory. The thalamic and basal ganglia volume and the regional cortical thickness were analysed by means of FreeSurfer. Results: Based on Fatigue Severity Status Scale score, patients were divided into fatigued (FSS ≥ 4, 71 patients, 46.6%) and non-fatigued (FSS < 4, 81 patients, 53.4%). A significant atrophy of striatum, thalamus, superior frontal gyrus and inferior parietal gyrus was observed in fatigued patients compared with non-fatigued patients. The cognitive domain of Modified Fatigue Impact Scale significantly correlated with the volume of the striatum and with the cortical thickness of the posterior parietal cortex and middle frontal gyrus (R = 0.51—0.61), while the physical domain of Modified Fatigue Impact Scale significantly correlated with striatum volume and superior frontal gyrus cortical thickness (R = 0.50—0.54). Conclusions: The regional analysis of deep and cortical grey matter atrophy suggests an association between the neurodegenerative process taking place in the striatum—thalamus—frontal cortex pathway and the development of fatigue in relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis. The inclusion of the posterior parietal cortex as one of the best predictors of the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale cognitive domain suggests the major role of the posterior attentional system in determining cognitive fatigue in relapsing—remitting multiple sclerosis.


2008 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 383-390 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myla D Goldman ◽  
Ruth Ann Marrie ◽  
Jeffrey A Cohen

Objective To assess the characteristics of the 6-min walk (6MW) in multiple sclerosis (MS) subjects of varied disability, and controls. To assess the correlation of 6MW to subjective measures of fatigue, health status and ambulation using the modified fatigue impact scale (MFIS), short form-36 Health Questionnaire physical component score and MS walking scale (MSWS). Methods Forty MS expanded disability status scale [(EDSS) 0—6.5] and 20 control subjects were recruited from a MS outpatient clinic. Subjects completed survey material and three 6MWs with 1-h interval rest in a single study visit. Results There was no practice effect or fatigability with repeat 6MW tests with a one-h rest period between test sessions. The 6MW had excellent intra-[intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.95] and inter-rater (ICC = 0.91) reliability. MS subjects demonstrated reduced 6MW distance and speed compared with controls ( P < 0.0001). Within the MS population 6MW distance was significantly reduced with increasing disability ( P = 0.05). Compared with the EDSS, the 6MW had a stronger correlation to subjective measures of ambulation and physical fatigue: MSWS ( r = -0.81 versus 0.69) and MFISphy (0.66 versus 0.63). Conclusions The 6MW is a feasible, reproducible, and reliable measure in MS. MS subjects demonstrate motor fatigue in both 6MW distance and speed compared with controls. In MS subjects there is an inverse relationship between motor fatigue and disability. 6MW has a strong correlation to subjective measures of ambulation and physical fatigue. Multiple Sclerosis 2008; 14: 383—390. http://msj.sagepub.com


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 205521731988798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virginia Meca-Lallana ◽  
María Brañas-Pampillón ◽  
Yolanda Higueras ◽  
Antonio Candeliere-Merlicco ◽  
Yolanda Aladro-Benito ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1105-1114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miklos Palotai ◽  
Andrea Mike ◽  
Michele Cavallari ◽  
Erzsebet Strammer ◽  
Gergely Orsi ◽  
...  

Background: Reports on the relationships between white matter lesion load (WMLL) and fatigue and anxiety in multiple sclerosis (MS) are inconsistent. Objective: To investigate the association of total and tract-specific WMLL with fatigue and anxiety. Methods: Total and regional T2 WMLL was assessed for 19 tracts in 48 MS patients (30 females). ICBM-DTI-81 Atlas-based parcellation was combined with WMLL segmentation of T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Fatigue, anxiety, and depression were assessed using Fatigue Impact Scale, State Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory, respectively. Results: Fatigue, anxiety, and depression showed significant inter-correlation. We found no association between fatigue and total or regional WMLLs, whereas anxiety was associated with total and regional WMLLs in nine tracts. After adjusting for total WMLL, age, and depression, only the column and body of the fornix (CBF) remained significantly associated with anxiety. Post hoc analyses showed no CBF lesions on T1-weighted MRI and suggested, but could not confirm, that the septum pellucidum might play a role in the pathogenesis of anxiety. Conclusion: Our results suggest that anxiety in MS patients may have a neuropathological substrate in the septo-fornical area, which requires further validation using larger sample size and ultra-high-field MRI in targeted prospective studies.


2009 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew A. Plow ◽  
Virgil Mathiowetz ◽  
Dawn A. Lowe

Purpose. Compare the efficacy of two interventions designed to promote health and physical activity (PA). Design. This study was a randomized clinical trial using a time series design. Subjects were randomized into individualized physical rehabilitation (IPR) and group wellness intervention (GWI). Primary questionnaires were administered twice preintervention and twice postintervention. Physical fitness and PA frequency were assessed preintervention and postintervention. Setting. Clinic based in a metropolitan area. Subjects. Fifty volunteers with multiple sclerosis. Interventions. IPR consisted of four physical therapy sessions plus three telephone calls. GWI consisted of seven educational sessions. Measures. Primary: SF-36 Health Survey, Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, Mental Health Inventory. Secondary: physical assessment, PA frequency. Analysis. Stability of primary questionnaires between the two pretests was examined. Efficacy of interventions was evaluated by multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and effect sizes. Results. Primary measures were stable between pretests. MANOVA showed nonsignificant differences between interventions. Eight weeks postintervention, both groups had improved PA, fatigue, resting heart rate, and strength. Effect sizes suggested that IPR had a greater effect on preventing decline of physical health, whereas GWI had a greater effect on improving mental health. Conclusion. Preliminary evidence indicated that health and PA improved in both groups. Effect sizes suggested that participants benefited more physically from IPR and more mentally from GWI. Future research should determine whether combining therapeutic exercise with group education improves both mental and physical health.


2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 462-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo Romani ◽  
Roberto Bergamaschi ◽  
Elisa Candeloro ◽  
Enrico Alfonsi ◽  
Roberto Callieco ◽  
...  

Sixty relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) patients were selected on the basis of their score on the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) and formed two groups: 40 patients (fatigued MS; MSf) scored above the 75th percentile of a previously assessed representative MS sample (100 patients), and 20 age- and sex-matched patients (nonfatigued MS patients; MSnf) scored below the 25th percentile. The patients underwent clinical evaluation (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)), further assessment of fatigue (Fatigue Impact Scale), scales evaluating depression (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI)) and neuropsychological tests. All patients were evaluated for muscle fatigability and central activation by means of a biomechanical test of sustained contraction; they also underwent somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The patients of the MSf subgroup were then randomized to one of the following two treatments: 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) 24 mg/day and fluoxetine (FLX) 20 mg/day. After a one-week titration this treatment proceeded for 8 weeks. At the end of the treatment, EDSS, fatigue and depression scores were further evaluated. At baseline, fatigue test scores consistently correlated with depression and cognitive test scores, but not with the fatigability test. Fatigue scores decreased in both treatment groups in a similar way. Due to the design of the study, this cannot be disjoined from a placebo effect. The changes of fatigue scores could not be predicted in the FLX group, whereas in the 4-AP group higher basal fatigability test scores were associated with greater reduction in fatigue scores.


2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Rasova ◽  
E Havrdova ◽  
P Brandejsky ◽  
M Zálišová ◽  
B Foubikova ◽  
...  

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare the effect of four different programmes on spiroergometric, spirometric and clinical parameters in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.Methods One hundred and twelve MS patients were divided into four groups. The first group underwent neurophysiologically based physiotherapy, the second aerobic training, the third combined therapy (neurophysiologically based physiotherapy and aerobic training) and the fourth did not change any habits. Seventeen patients did not finish the study. Patients were examined on impairment (Expanded Disability Status Scale), disability (Barthel Index), handicap (Environment Status Scale), quality of life (Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life), fatigue (Modified Fatigue Impact Scale), depression (Beck Depression Inventory Score), respiratory function (spirometric parameters on spirometry) and physical fitness (spiroergometric parameters on a bicycle ergometer).Results The patients who participated in one of our training programmes showed a significant improvement of the examined parameters in comparison to those who did not change their present habits. Each of the four training programmes had a different impact on the parameters, which means that each of them had a different effect. The neurophysiologically based physiotherapy had the greatest impact on impairment, and the aerobic training on spirometric and spiroergometric parameters. All methods (the neurophysiologically based physiotherapy, the aerobic training and the combined programme) had an impact on fatigue.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document