Perspectives From Persons With Multiple Sclerosis for a Comprehensive Real-World Change Therapy for Mobility.
Victor W Mark, Ritalinda D'Andrea Lee, Edward Taub and 1 others
PMID 35282147WHAT IT FOUND
Most people with MS in this survey said they would accept the proposed leg therapy: 90% endorsed a free trial, and 65% to 90% accepted its key parts.
The schedule was least accepted. This does not show the therapy improves walking.
Key findings
01Ninety percent of respondents said they would take part in a free physical therapy trial that research suggested could improve walking.
02Most survey completers accepted each key procedure, from 65% for the intensive schedule to 90% for other procedures.
03Among people who already had physical therapy, 72% would accept the intensive schedule, compared with 45% of those who had not.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
Participants were selected for self-reported spasticity, not directly for limited mobility. The survey did not collect demographic information from people who declined to respond, so it cannot describe them. Acceptance was asked about a hypothetical therapy offered at no cost, which may not reflect real-world willingness if patients must pay or arrange insurance. The study measured opinions about procedures, not clinical outcomes such as walking ability. Most respondents had prior physical therapy, and interest varied by that experience.
Declared interests
The North American Research Committee on Multiple Sclerosis supported the survey. One author has MS, is impaired in mobility, and participated in designing the survey. The text reports institutional review board approval but no other conflict statement.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the high acceptance rates as evidence that the therapy improves walking. This survey asked people whether they would accept hypothetical procedures, and it did not test the therapy or measure mobility outcomes.