Effect of Robot-Assisted Versus Conventional Body-Weight-Supported Treadmill Training on Quality of Life for People With Multiple Sclerosis
By Wier, Lauren M.; Hatcher, Mary S.; Triche, Elizabeth W.; Lo, Albert C.; Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, Vol. 48, No. 4, pp. 483-492Publication Date:
Study describes the effect of body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) on quality of life for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. Participants were 13 individuals with MS and gait impairment and a mean age of about 50 years, 6 of whom were female. Participants were randomly divided into 2 groups to receive 2 blocks of 6 biweekly training sessions as follows: (1) R-T group receiving robot assisted BWSTT then BWSTT alone, and (2) T-R group receiving BWSTT alone then robot assisted BWSTT. Quality of life was assessed using self-report questionnaires including the MS Quality of Life Inventory (MSQLI). No statistically significant differences were found between robot assisted BWSTT and unassisted BWSTT for improving quality of life outcome measures. The change in scores of the Physical Component Summary scale of the MSQLI from baseline to the end of the 12 training sessions improved significantly more in the R-T than the T-R group. Within-participant longitudinal changes in quality of life for all participants from both groups combined showed significant improvements in 5 of the 13 quality of life measures. Study results suggest that both types of BWSTT may improve quality of life for people with gait dysfunction secondary to MS.
Published by:
VA Rehabilitation Research & Development Service (Web Site: http://www.rehab.research.va.gov )
Link to text: http://www.rehab.research.va.gov/jour/11/484/wier484.html
