We are continuing to make the case for our #ThinkHand campaign with several outputs in 2018, which are being used to support our work in this area. I am very proud that ORATORIO-HAND, a phase-3b study of ocrelizumab in PPMS, which will include patients with an EDSS of up to 8.0 and will start recruiting in the first quarter of 2019. The primary outcome in ORATORIO-HAND is the 9-HPT; this in itself is a first and a major milestone for the field of MS.
These two studies are remarkable for several reasons. Firstly, these trials are challenging the dogma that MS is not modifiable beyond EDSS 7.0, secondly, it is shifting the focus away from the lower limbs and EDSS to a new primary outcome the 9-HPT and, finally, it is giving people with advanced MS hope in valuing their hand function and independence.
As part of our #ThinkHand campaign Alison Thomson, our research designer, in collaboration with the Agency of Design, helped design an upper limb rehabilitation tool called under&over, which we launched at ECTRIMS-2018 in Berlin. We have now been successful in obtaining a grant to test whether or not under&over will work as a rehab tool and are planning a remote web-based study to test it. Again our primary outcome will be stabilisation, or improvement, in the performance of the 9HPT only this time we will be using our cardboard 9HPT.
Would you be interested in helping us design the study and/or participating?
A prospective, randomized, three-arm, evaluator blinded study to demonstrate the feasibility of a telerehabilitation (TR) program in individuals with ambulatory deficits secondary to Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and evaluate its efficacy when compared to conventional on-site physical therapy (PT) was completed. Thirty participants were evaluated at baseline and randomized to one of three groups with intervention lasting 8 weeks: Group 1 (control)- customized unsupervised home-based exercise program (HEP) 5 days a week; Group 2 (TR)- remote PT supervised via audio/visual real-time telecommunication twice weekly; Group 3 (PT)- in-person PT at the medical facility twice weekly. Outcomes included patient reported outcomes (PROs) obtained through questionnaires, and measurements of gait and balance performed with bedside tests and a computerized system. Functional gait assessment improved from baseline in all three groups. There were no significant differences between the TR and the conventional PT groups for a variety of outcome measures. TR is a feasible method to perform PT in persons with MS and has comparable efficacy to conventional in-person PT as measured by patient reported outcomes and objective outcomes of gait and balance.
CoI: The design, development and manufacture of the under&over rehab tool and the follow-on web-based rehab study has been kindly funded by unrestricted grants from F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG.
Prof G are you going to do a 2018 review? It would be nice. Thanks for all your efforts over the holidays. It has been very nice seeing you so engaged again.
RE: "Prof G are you going to do a 2018 review"My project for the next few days.
To Prof G and all the team at Barts, I just wanted to thank all of you for your unstinting work and efforts this year (and beyond) on the blog. All of your insights and dedication make a real difference to those of us with MS…. trust me. Best, Rachel
You say you are recruiting to the Oratorio-Hans trial in the first quarter of 2019. How do I apply to participate?