The University of Ulster was awarded funding by The MS Society, NI, for a five year programme of research which commenced in June 2000. As this programme has now finished, we would like to provide the readers of ‘MS Issues’ with a short summary.

As a result of the work we have undertaken over the past five years, we now have a clear picture as to how professionals (Nurses and Allied Health Professionals) involved in the care of people with MS manage the symptoms associated with MS. This information was gathered by conducting a series of questionnaire surveys in Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland and southern Ireland. This background information was then used to identify our subsequent areas of research in the programme, e.g. dealing with the many symptoms that people with MS are faced with. To do this, we undertook a number of clinical studies to investigate certain treatments that may be of benefit. These have included investigating how useful Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) is for low back pain in people with MS; this study showed that it may indeed be an effective way of self-managing pain.

Another study has shown us that a combination of pelvic floor muscle training, EMG Biofeedback and Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation is useful for bladder problems.

Our results have also indicated that pressure ulcers may be a big problem for people with MS; we have looked at ways to try and prevent these pressure ulcers from developing and have suggested ways in which clinicians should deal with this.

Results from another series of studies have demonstrated that people with MS report lower health related quality of life than the general population, and that this is influenced by a number of psychological, physical and social factors such as general physical function, depression and cognitive problems. We have subsequently suggested ways in which people may be able to find help to cope with the stresses and strains of both everyday life as well as because of their MS.

Another piece of research has demonstrated that group physiotherapy may improve balance and mobility in people with MS and as a result, we have decided to undertake a much larger study to find out if this is really true.

Studies which have looked at the needs of those people who care for an individual with MS on a daily basis (e.g. family and friends) have shown us that they sometimes need support, even through they do not always ask for it immediately.

We have also examined the different questionnaires that researchers and clinicians use to try and monitor people’s progress with different treatments for MS, and have suggested ways in which we can make these more accurate.

At the end of the five year programme of work, we have identified areas of research that we need to expand upon, and also other new areas of research. Some of our current research areas include investigating how to better manage bowel problems, and the benefit of complementary therapies for treating symptoms such as pain and spasm associated with MS. We also currently exploring how fatigue may affect speech, and interventions aimed at managing fatigue. We feel that all our work will help clinicians to better manage the various symptoms that people with MS are faced with, which will ultimately improve the quality of life of those affected by MS until there is a cure.

We gratefully acknowledge the support and assistance given by individuals involved in this research programme and also those hospitals who generously provided facilities.

Details of the Current UU Group Excercise Research