CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disorder of Central Nervous System. Frequency of MS varies in different populations. The precise cause of MS is still unknown. Pathophysiology of neurological tissue destruction in Multiple Sclerosis results from a complex interaction between the neurons, glia and immune system. There is a wide range of symptoms seen in MS including weakness, spasticity, gait and balance problems, urinary incontinence, postural sway, dysarthria< dysphagia and sensory loss etc. Disease-modifying drugs are the long-term treatment for MS but cannot cure the disease itself but only aid in slowing the progression and preventing new attacks, symptom are-ups and delay the advance of the disease. These may reduce nerve inammation and manage the are-ups. The rehabilitation team works with patients and their family on physical and psychosocial aspects in order to promote a superior QoL. A regular and well planned physiotherapy program helps in increasing stability and with appropriate drug treatment, over a period of about time leads to an improvement in stability along with a consecutive decrease in the relapse number. A well designed rehabilitation program along with necessary precautions should be used to improve the overall conditioning of the patient.