Results of tele-rehabilitation in patients with multiple sclerosis during 2020–2021 COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the nervous system of a predominantly progressive nature. In addition to diseasemodifying drug therapy of MS patients require physical rehabilitation, including tele-rehabilitation (TeleRBT).Objective: to evaluate the efficacy of TeleRBT in MS patients as one of the rehabilitation stages during the 2020–2021 coronavirus pandemic.Material and methods. The study involved 36 patients diagnosed with MS who completed a TeleRBT course. The course included 10 lessons of 60 minutes each over 10 days with a two-day break. Various questionnaires and scales were used to assess efficacy, and neurological status was also assessed.Results. In the group of patients who participated in TeleRBT, the level of disability on the EDSS scale did not change; walking function improved: the time to walk 25 feet decreased from 9.77±6.74 to 8.85±5.26 s (p=0.016), tolerance to physical activity increased: 6 minute walking distance without rest increased from 246.02±145.60 to 261.58±118.55 m (p=0.02), the speed of information processing in PASAT test improved from 31.92±18.35 to 43.12±21.39 (p<0.05), the number of correct answers in the SDMT test increased from 40.7±11.75 to 45.16±13.13 (p<0.05). No exacerbations of the disease were recorded during the TeleRBT period.Conclusion. TeleRBT had a positive effect on the cognitive and motor domains of patients with MS. The absence of exacerbations and negative dynamics in neurological status characterizes TeleRBT method as safe.