OT and Multiple Sclerosis

Earn 1 hour of continuing education by joining OT Potential after taking this course.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most common cause of non-traumatic disability in people aged 18-65 years. 

As rehab professionals, we know that exercise is one of the mainstays of treatment for these clients. 

Though not definitively established, exercise has the most potential promise to be disease modifying if started early in the course of disease. But, alongside exercise there are other important interventions to consider like fatigue management and education. 

In today’s article review, we will look at a massive overview of reviews (72 articles were included!). The article outlines the strength of the evidence being multiple types of rehab interventions. 

Then, next week we are excited to welcome to the podcast Sarah Adam, OTD, an occupational therapist with MS who has taken her pursuit of adaptive sports to an elite level—and recently earned Silver in wheelchair rugby at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Sarah was the first woman to ever play on Team USA’s wheelchair rugby team, also made history as the first woman to score a point during an Olympic wheelchair rugby game. We clearly have so much to learn from Sarah that I know will inspire your OT practice. 

Primary Journal Article Explored

When you log in, be sure to check out the OT Potential Club’s written breakdown of the following research article. Then, share your questions and thoughts with fellow practitioners.

• Effective rehabilitation interventions and participation among people with multiple sclerosis: An overview of reviews

Supporting Research and Journal Articles

• Multiple sclerosis and exercise—A disease-modifying intervention of mice or men?
• Effect of Exercise on Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: A Network Meta-analysis Comparing Different Types of Exercise

Learning Objectives

• You will be able to identify which OT interventions for MS have the strongest support in research. 
• You will be able to recognize considerations for implementing exercise-based interventions for people with MS.

Agenda

Intro and breakdown and analysis of journal article

• Quick Intro to MS and Rehab
• Intent of this research
• What were their methods? 
• What were their results?
• Article discussion/conclusion

Discussion on practical implications for OTs

• Can you tell me about getting diagnosed with MS and how it intersected with your OT career? 
• Have you formally received OT- or do you “OT yourself.” 
• How is being a silver medalist at the paralympics shaping your identity? 
• What were your impressions of this article? 
• What advice do you have for OT who are goal setting with people with MS.
• Exercise was such a key component of this review, what have you learned about exercise and MS that you want OTs to know? 
• Fatigue management had strong evidence behind it. I know that you prioritize rest, what have you learned that could be helpful to OTs? 
• Providing patient education identified as a key role for OTs. What practical tips do you have for us for providing education that is actually helpful? 
• Do you see roles for OTs in nutrition and things like mindfulness-based stress reduction? 
• How does the OT field need to change over the next 5 years to provide better care to people with MS.

Target Audience/Educational Level

Our target audience is occupational therapy practitioners who are looking to learn about OT and Multiple Sclerosis.  The educational level is introductory.

Financial and Non-financial Disclosures

It is the policy of OT Potential to disclose any financial and non-financial interest the provider or instructor may have in a product or service mentioned during an activity. This is to ensure that the audience is made aware of any bias of the speaker.

We here at OT Potential have no financial stake in this topic. 

Speakers

Sarah L. Adam, OTD, OTR/L, CBIS

Sarah Adam is an Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy Assistant Professor and Academic Fieldwork Coordinator at St. Louis University. 

Dr. Adam has been practicing for the past four years as an inpatient occupational therapist and Certified Brain Injury Specialist (CBIS) working with adults with traumatic brain injury and stroke

Dr. Adam has special research interests in enhancing independence and participation of individuals with disability through community-based exercise and adaptive sports. She has collaborated with an Independent Living Center and adaptive health and wellness center to create a comprehensive assessment protocol and exercise program for adults with physical disabilities.

Sarah Lyon, OTR/L

Sarah’s passion is helping fellow OT practitioners translate evidence into daily practice. Sarah earned her BA in religion from St. Olaf College, then earned her master’s degree in occupational therapy from New York University in 2011.

Since then, she’s worked in numerous facilities, including a critical access hospital, an acute trauma hospital, and a state inpatient psychiatric hospital. Sarah is the founder/owner of OT Potential. Read more about OT Potential here.

This course was designed to meet your continuing education requirements

We designed the courses in the Club to meet the requirements for “online” and “independent/self-study” courses. To verify the requirements from your specific state (within the US), check out our post, OT Continuing Education Requirements. If you are outside of the United States and have questions, please contact us.

We are proud to be an AOTA Approved Provider and to meet the requirements for your NBCOT renewal.

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