Mobility problems are a significant issue for people living with MS and the use of exercise and physical activity interventions to improve them was the topic for the conference held at UL on the 7th and 8th of June. The theme of the conference was Facilitating sustained changes in mobility and exercise participation.
Rehabilitation in MS (RIMS) is the European network for best practice and research and the Special Interest Group (SIG) for Mobility is the network that brings together rehabilitation doctors, sports scientist and physiotherapists who work together to optimise clinical practice and outcomes for people with MS.
The meeting at UL set many records, the most attendees ever at the meeting – 75, from the most countries – 16, the highest number of abstracts submitted, and the most consecutive days of sunshine in Ireland in the last 2 years.
MS Ireland Board member and research lead on our Getting The Balance Right Programme Dr Susan Coote was the organiser of the event this year.
“It was my pleasure to host the RIMS SIG mobility meeting at UL. The passion and enthusiasm of this community of researchers and clinicians who are working to improve the lives of people with MS is catching .”
The conference was jam packed with interesting projects and ideas. Some of the key take home points include:
- In 2012 there were a record 40 publications in the area of mobility and MS, the vast majority suggesting positive benefits. Nonetheless people with MS still remain inactive with one study suggesting only 28% did any exercise. Of concern are the very few studies to investigate the long term effects of exercise.
- Professor John Saxton, University of East Anglia, UK presented the results of his trial that investigated adding measures to help change behaviours to exercise classes. The treatment resulted in an increase in self-reported physical activity at 3 months and reductions in fatigue and improvements in impact of MS and quality of life.
- Prof Christoph Heesen, Hamburg, Germany presented the results of his trial for people with progressive MS that found significant increases in fitness, walking ability, learning and memory and depression and fatigue. The treatments used were arm cycling, rowing machine or static bicycle.
- Dr Alexander Tallner, also from the university of Erlangen-Nurnberg presented his research that used an internet platform to deliver and exercise class. They found significant improvements in activity, fitness and strength in their participants.
Read Dr Coote’s report from the day.
Image caption: (L-R) Ava Battles, CEO, MS Ireland; Professor Peter Feys, President, RIMS; Anders Romberg, Chair, SIG Mobility; Susan Coote, UL; Professor Chris Heesen, Chair, SIG Education.