Research Programme
Research Underway and Completed at the University of Limerick
Getting the Balance Right
The Getting the Balance Right programme has included three research studies. The results of the studies have demonstrated significant improvements after the 10 week treatments. Further analysis of the results will also allow us to see who does best from what treatment, so that the HSE and other service providers can be lobbied to ensure that people with MS in Ireland have timely access to the right treatments.
The research arm of the Getting the Balance Right Project has provided much needed evidence to influence government policy in relation to the direction and development of exercise - based therapeutic intervention for people with MS. The preliminary results and programmes can be downloaded.
A profile of people with MS attending physiotherapy services nationally in Ireland.
This study was carried out by members of the Physiotherapists interested in MS group. The study profiled people with MS who attended 17 services in Ireland over a three month period. On a positive note the services saw people with a wide range of mobility difficulties, however treatment times were worryingly low. Only 5% of people received over 12 hours of treatment, the amount used in studies where improvements have been seen. The results have been presented at the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists Annual Conference 2009, and will be presented at the World Congress of Neuro Rehabilitation in Vienna in 2010. They have also been presented to those responsible for Primary Care development in the HSE.
Measuring physical activity and energy expenditure in people with MS.
A pilot study was carried out in Limerick in spring 2009. Twelve people with MS wore two different activity monitors for a week, and answered a questionnaire about their activity in the same week. We found that one device, the SenseWear arm band, gave higher results than the ActivPal monitor for both steps taken and activity used. Further research is now underway to see which device is closest to the actual activity and energy measures in people with mild and moderate MS. This study is currently recruiting people within driving distance of UL to take part in testing sessions. If you think you would be interested in taking part you can download the information leaflet here (leaftlet will be posted shortly).
What do you mean when you say you want physiotherapy?
This study will ask people with MS in Limerick and Cork who use a walking aid, and carers of people with MS what they think the ideal physiotherapy service would look like. In a Lansdowne Market Research survey in 2005 members of MS Ireland overwhelmingly said that physiotherapy was what the needed most, but couldn’t get. The results will be used to inform physiotherapists as they develop new Primary Care services nationally. The next step of this study will be to ask physiotherapists what they think is the ideal service and to see if the users and providers agree.
Strengthening programmes at home – is it beneficial to add electrical stimulation?
This study will evaluate if adding electrical stimulation (similar to the SlenderTone system for tummy muscles) to leg exercises gives better improvements. We are now recruiting people in the Limerick and Galway areas to take part in a new study. Lonan Hughes is a post-graduate research student in the University of Limerick under the supervision of Dr. Susan Coote. Following on from the Getting the Balance Right project, this study is seeking people with MS that use a walking aid. The study aims to compare the effects of leg strengthening with and without the assistance of an electrical stimulation device that causes muscle contraction. Learn more here
Test re-test reliability of the Getting the Balance Right measures
This study took part in summer 2009 and investigated if two physiotherapists gave the same scores for the same person using the GTBR tests. We found that for balance and walking distance the scores were very similar, but that for strength testing there were big differences between the testers.
Can exercise improve autonomic function in Multiple Sclerosis?
This study has been going on since the start of 2009 and is looking at gastric emptying. Gastric emptying simply refers to the time it takes for food to empty from your stomach. Previous research has shown this to be slower in people with MS and it may be improved with exercise. The test involves giving breath samples by blowing through a straw into a small glass tube at regular intervals following a pancake breakfast. Some people will do the testing before and after an exercise programme, and some will have testing 12 weeks apart with no change to their exercise habits. If you think you would be interested in taking part you can download the information leaflet here (leaftlet will be posted shortly).