title: Effectiveness of multi-disciplinary rehabilitation for patients with Neuromyelitis Optica.
abstract: Neuromyelitis optica (NMO), previously considered a subtype of multiple sclerosis (MS), is now known to be a unique disorder associated with autoantibodies against aquaporin-4. The rehabilitation protocols for MS have been applied to NMO, without specific measures of efficacy.
  
  
  
  The evaluation of the effectiveness of an MS type inpatient rehabilitation program for patients with NMO.
  
  
  
  Retrospective chart reviews of 15 inpatients with NMO and 32 inpatients with MS. Clinical severity was assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), functional assessments were scored using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the Montebello Rehabilitation Factor Score (MRFS), and the Functional Ambulation Category (FAC). There was a higher percentage of women in the NMO group (87% vs 56% P = 0.003). The MS group had significantly more cognitive and communication deficits (P = 0.003 and P = 0.00001). No significant differences were found in admission FIM, EDSS and FAC scores.
  
  
  
  Both groups benefitted, however at discharge, the NMO group showed greater improvement in FIM scores (NMO admission 79 ± 24, discharge 98 ± 21; MS admission 80 ± 28, discharge 89 ± 28); and lower EDSS score (NMO from 7.2 ± 1.4 to 6.3 ± 1.4; MS from 7.4 ± 1.4 to 7 ± 1.5).
  
  
  
  Inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs available for the patients with MS may be successfully implemented for patients with NMO.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurological Rehabilitation , the Chaim Sheba Medical Center , Tel Hashomer , Israel.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nechemia
authors.affiliation: b Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center , Jerusalem.
authors.forename: Elior
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moreh
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurological Rehabilitation , the Chaim Sheba Medical Center , Tel Hashomer , Israel.|c Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Israel.
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weingarden
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurological Rehabilitation , the Chaim Sheba Medical Center , Tel Hashomer , Israel.
authors.forename: Ayala
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bloch
authors.affiliation: c Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Israel.|d Multiple Sclerosis Center, the Chaim Sheba Medical Center , Tel Hashomer , Israel.
authors.forename: Uri
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Givon
authors.affiliation: b Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center , Jerusalem.
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vaknin-Dembinsky
authors.affiliation: b Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center , Jerusalem.
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: b Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center , Jerusalem.
authors.forename: Zeev
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Meiner
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurological Rehabilitation , the Chaim Sheba Medical Center , Tel Hashomer , Israel.|c Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Israel.
authors.forename: Gabi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zeilig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D000066530:Neurological Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D009471:Neuromyelitis Optica / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities
keywords: Body structure and functions; Expanded Disability Status Scale; Functional outcomes; Multiple sclerosis; Neuromyelitis optica; Rehabilitation