Use and subjective experience of the impact of motor-assisted movement exercisers in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a multicenter observational study

André Maier*, Marcel Gaudlitz, Torsten Grehl, Ute Weyen, Robert Steinbach, Julian Grosskreutz, Annekathrin Rödiger, Jan Christoph Koch, Teresa Lengenfeld, Patrick Weydt, René Günther, Joachim Wolf, Petra Baum, Moritz Metelmann, Johannes Dorst, Albert C. Ludolph, Dagmar Kettemann, Jenny Norden, Ruhan Yasemin Koc, Bertram WalterBarbara Hildebrandt, Christoph Münch, Thomas Meyer, Susanne Spittel

*Korrespondierende/r Autor/-in für diese Arbeit

Abstract

Motor-assisted movement exercisers (MME) are devices that assist with physical therapy in domestic settings for people living with ALS. This observational cross-sectional study assesses the subjective experience of the therapy and analyzes users' likelihood of recommending treatment with MME. The study was implemented in ten ALS centers between February 2019 and October 2020, and was coordinated by the research platform Ambulanzpartner. Participants assessed symptom severity, documented frequency of MME use and rated the subjective benefits of therapy on a numerical scale (NRS, 0 to 10 points, with 10 being the highest). The Net Promotor Score (NPS) determined the likelihood of a participant recommending MME. Data for 144 participants were analyzed. Weekly MME use ranged from 1 to 4 times for 41% of participants, 5 to 7 times for 42%, and over 7 times for 17%. Particularly positive results were recorded in the following domains: amplification of a sense of achievement (67%), diminution of the feeling of having rigid limbs (63%), diminution of the feeling of being immobile (61%), improvement of general wellbeing (55%) and reduction of muscle stiffness (52%). Participants with more pronounced self-reported muscle weakness were more likely to note a beneficial effect on the preservation and improvement of muscle strength during MME treatment (p < 0.05). Overall, the NPS for MME was high (+ 61). High-frequency MME-assisted treatment (defined as a minimum of five sessions a week) was administered in the majority of participants (59%) in addition to physical therapy. Most patients reported having achieved their individual therapeutic objectives, as evidenced by a high level of satisfaction with MME therapy. The results bolster the justification for extended MME treatment as part of a holistic approach to ALS care.

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Aufsatznummer9657
ZeitschriftScientific Reports
Jahrgang12
Ausgabenummer1
Seiten (von - bis)9657
ISSN2045-2322
DOIs
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 10.06.2022

Strategische Forschungsbereiche und Zentren

  • Forschungsschwerpunkt: Gehirn, Hormone, Verhalten - Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)
  • Zentren: Neuromuskuläres Zentrum Schleswig-Holstein

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