[Effects of rehabilitation on fatigue, disability and quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis: A systematic review]

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of rehabilitation, highlighting the role of Occupational Therapy, in people with multiple sclerosis, in terms of disability, fatigue and quality of life.

Materials and methods: A literature search was carried out in the BVS, Cochrane, OT-Seeker, PubMed and PEDro databases.

Inclusion criteria: Controlled clinical trials published between January 2011 and April 2019 in Spanish or English with a score of ≥5 on the PEDro scale whose purpose was rehabilitation through the use of assistive technology, skills training, vestibular rehabilitation, behaviour modification, therapeutic education or specific Occupational Therapy interventions.

Results: A total of 16 studies (1,279 subjects) were included. Rehabilitation improved patients' fatigue and disability and slightly enhanced their quality of life.

Conclusions: Rehabilitation can provide benefits to the performance of people with multiple sclerosis by reducing their perceived fatigue and disability.

Limitations: The heterogeneity of the sample, the type and duration of the interventions and variability of the instruments for measuring results.

Keywords: Calidad de vida; Disability; Discapacidad; Esclerosis múltiple; Fatiga; Fatigue; Multiple sclerosis; Occupational therapy; Quality of life; Rehabilitación; Rehabilitation; Terapia ocupacional.