Advanced Programme on MS and Rehabilitation in MS

Rehabilitation is an essential component that should be factored into the comprehensive care of all people with MS. This advanced programme:

• Covers the basics of what multiple sclerosis is (= Course 1 of our Foundation Programme);
• Explains its clinical presentation (= Course 2 of our Foundation Prorgamme); and
• Covers all aspects of MS rehabilitation, including the different types and methods of rehabilitation, the importance of goal setting, and the various ways that rehabilitation can help the person with MS function optimally at home and at work (= Course 6 of our Advanced Programme on Rehabilitation in MS).

What you will Learn

After completing this programme, you should be better able to:

• Appreciate the importance of understanding the pathophysiology of MS as a foundation for making decisions concerning the management of MS
• Identify the various types of MS and know their natural history and progression
• State the genetic, race, gender and environmental factors which affect the incidence of MS
• Describe the structure of the nervous system and how its function is altered by MS
• Explain the function of the immune system and how its role is disrupted by MS
• Describe the underlying pathophysiological causes of the most common symptoms associated with MS
• Recognise that central to this is the inflammation and demyelination of axons which disrupts neural conduction
• Appreciate that cortical pathology may determine cognitive disability in MS.

• Explain what is meant by the term “clinically isolated syndrome”
• Identify the various types of MS and their natural history and progression
• Describe the variability of the clinical course of MS and resulting disability
• Determine the nature and impact of some of the more common symptoms found in people with MS
• Outline approaches used to identify some of these symptoms
• Describe the features of an MS relapse
• Identify key questions to ask a person with MS who you suspect is experiencing a relapse
• Assist a person with MS to differentiate between fluctuation in symptoms, relapse and potential infection, and to understand trigger factors
• Outline the differences between adult-onset and early-onset MS
• Define late-onset MS
• Describe other less common variations of MS
• Specify disease progression factors and symptoms that are predictive of long-term outcomes

• Define rehabilitation in acute or chronic illness
• Explain the need for rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS)
• Identify the barriers to effective rehabilitation outcomes
• Describe the importance of the multidisciplinary team in rehabilitation
• Evaluate the role of the MS Nurse during multidisciplinary rehabilitation
• Justify the importance of goal setting during MS rehabilitation
• Differentiate between the goals of restorative and preventative rehabilitation
• Establish the need for the PwMS to be the centre of the goal setting process
• Compare and differentiate the rehabilitation needs of those who are newly diagnosed; RRMS and those with progressive disease
• Describe how rehabilitation benefits those experiencing a relapse
• Identify benefits of rehabilitation for those with newly diagnosed MS
• Describe rehabilitative interventions for dysfunctions in physical body structures
• Evaluate why it is important to maintain arm function
• Appreciate the importance of exercise
• Describe strategies that will prevent falls in the MS population
• Review assessment methods that can be used to evaluate the impact upon activities of daily living
• Explain the different types of rehabilitation used for addressing MS-related fatigue
• Evaluate the rehabilitation interventions for speech and communication dysfunctions
• Identify home modification options and adaptive devices to support the health and functioning of PwMS
• Describe the different settings used for rehabilitation programmes
• Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the inpatient and outpatient setting
• Consider the role and value of telerehabilitation
• Be understanding of the right to self-determination and autonomy
• Describe how a PwMS can manage issues associated with sexuality
• Summarise the rehabilitative interventions for managing a mood disorder such as depression
• Summarise the impact that MS has on employment and career progression
• Identify factors that contribute to unemployment for PwMS
• Evaluate work-based adaptations that can be implemented to increase participation
• Describe the vocational rehabilitation process
• Appreciate the importance of educating employers regarding the rights of PwMS

Target Audience

This activity has been developed to meet the educational needs of rehabilitation professionals who have an interest in optimising the management of people with MS. It may also be of interest to other healthcare professionals who are involved in rehabilitative strategies in MS.

Duration

The estimated time to complete this course is 15 hours.

Method of Participation

There are no fees for participating in this activity. Participants must:

1. Read the learning objectives
2. Participate in the entire educational activity
3. Complete a pre-survey and a feedback survey
4. Complete the exam for the course, achieving a pass mark of 80% or more 

A certificate of completion will be available to download upon successful completion of the course.