The goal of rehabilitation is to improve and/or maintain function.
From the time of diagnosis onward, rehab specialists provide
education and treatment designed to promote good health and general
conditioning, reduce fatigue, and help you feel and function
at your best—at home and at work. If symptoms begin to
interfere with everyday activities, a rehab team can address
problems with mobility, dressing and personal care, role performance
at home and work, and overall fitness. They also provide evaluation
and treatment of speech and swallowing difficulties and problems
with thinking and memory.
Rehabilitation is considered a necessary component of comprehensive,
quality health care for people with MS, at all stages of the
disease.
Types of Rehabilitation Therapies
Physiotherapy (PT)
The physiotherapist evaluates and addresses the body’s
ability to move and function, with particular emphasis on walking,
strength, balance, posture, fatigue, and pain. PT might include
stretching, range-of-motion and strengthening exercises, gait
training, and training in the use of mobility aids (canes, crutches,
scooters and wheelchairs) and other assistive devices. The ultimate
goal is to achieve and maintain optimal functioning and prevent
unnecessary complications such as de-conditioning, muscle weakness
from lack of mobility, and muscle contractures related to spasticity.
Occupational Therapy (OT)
The goal of OT is to enhance independence, productivity, and
safety in all activities related to personal care, employment,
and leisure activities. Occupational therapists provide training
in energy conservation techniques and the use of adaptive tools
and devices to simplify tasks at home and in the office. They
recommend strategic modifications to the home and workplace
to ensure accessibility and convenience. Occupational therapists
also evaluate and treat problems with thinking and memory.
Therapy for Speech and Swallowing Problems
The speech/language pathologist (SLP) evaluates and treats
problems with speech and/or swallowing—both of which can result
from damage in the CNS that reduces control of the muscles used
in these important functions. The goal of therapy is to enhance
ease and clarity of communication and promote safe swallowing
and overall health. Some SLPs also evaluate and treat problems
with thinking and memory.
Therapy for Depression Psychologists and psychiatrists may be
helpful for mood or cognitive changes. Having to deal with MS
can cause depression for some,
but the disease process itself can also play a role. While
depression is very common in people with MS, it is also very treatable.
Cognitive Rehabilitation
Neuropsychologists, as well as many occupational therapists
and speech/language pathologists, evaluate and treat changes
in a
person’s ability to think, reason, concentrate or remember.
While these professionals use different evaluation and treatment
strategies, they share the common goal of helping people function
optimally if cognitive changes are experienced.
Social Workers
Social workers assess social needs and can help refer you to
key resources. Social workers can help you navigate concerns
related to income maintenance, insurance, housing, long-term
care options etc.
Vocational Rehabilitation
Provincial vocational rehab programs offer job readiness training,
job coaching, job placement assistance, mobility training,
and assistive technology assessments—with the goal of helping
people maintain their current employment or find new employment
that accommodates their needs.
