Rehabilitation of Spinal Cord Dysfunction in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Taewon Kim, MD, Dukhyun Sung, MD, PhD
Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex and heterogeneous disease associated with long?term disability.
Despite the availability of advanced disease modifying and symptomatic therapies that may reduce
the activation and progression of the disease, there is still a need for comprehensive rehabilitation interventions
in order to reduce sequales and symptoms of the disease on personal activities and social
participation. Exercise training has been proposed to counteract many of the consequences of
MS. Indeed, evidence indicates that engaging in exercise has the potential to improve and/or maintain
functional ability among people with MS. Although most of our knowledge about the consequences
of spinal cord dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis derives from the study of
traumatic spinal cord injuries, similar complications occur in myelopathies of all etiologies. The aim
of rehabilitation management of MS is to eliminate or ameliorate symptoms affecting the patient
functional abilities impairing quality of life as well as preventing secondary impairment or disability.
Journal of Multiple Sclerosis 5(2):25-28, 2014
