Multiple sclerosis functional composite

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Naila Parveen        Science AVCE

Multiple sclerosis functional composite

Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients have to take three tests. The tests indicate how badly the patients are affected by the disease, and how severe the symptoms are. The tests are taken every year, to see whether or not the patients have improved.

Timed 25 foot walk

First test that the MS patients have to take is a “timed 25 foot walk”:

  • The patient is directed one end of a clearly marked 25 foot course and is instructed to walk 25 feet as quickly as possible
  • The task is immediately administered again by having the patient walk back the same distance
  • The patients are told to do 2 trails to gain accurate and reliable results

Materials needed

  • Stop watch
  • Clipboard
  • Timed 25 foot walk record form
  • Marked 25 foot distance in an unobstructed hallway
  • Assistive device

3 minutes (180 seconds) per trial.

Any circumstances that may have affected the patients performance during the walk has to be recorded.

  • The patient had a cold or reports, not feeling well
  • The patient tripped but did not fall.

There are factors that may have affected the trail but were not severe enough to necessitate repetition of the trail.

9 hole peg test

The 9 hole peg test is a measure of upper extremity (arm and hand) function. It is the second component of the multiple sclerosis functional composite to be administered. Both the dominant and the non-dominant hands are tested twice (two consecutive trials of the dominant hand, which is immediately followed by two consecutive of the non-dominant hand). It is important that the 9 hole peg test be administered on a solid table (not something that is unstable).

Materials needed

9 hole peg test apparatus, stopwatch, clipboard, 9 hole peg test record form.

Time limit

5 minutes (300 seconds)

Completing the record form

Record any circumstances that you believe may have affected the patient’s performance, these are factors that may have affected the trials, but were not severe enough to necessitate repetition of the trial.

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If the trial is repeated, indicate this and specify the reason it had to be repeated.

Record only the times for the 2 successfully completed trials for each hand on the 9 hole peg test. If the patient could not complete one or both trials for either hand of the 9 hole peg test, record this in the appropriate section of the record form.

Results table on students

Conclusions

All students were quicker with their writing hand than their non-writing hand, with two exceptions; Katie and Faye (Who were slightly quicker with the non-writing hand).

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