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Complementary and alternative therapies in multiple sclerosis: a systematic literature classification and analysis.

Acta neurologica Belgica
April 1, 2022
Goli Arji et al. (6 authors)
Journal ArticleReviewSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to systematically review and classify the use of mindfulness and other CAM therapies for managing MS symptoms based on the ICF model.

Results Summary

The review found that mindfulness was frequently used for managing MS symptoms, particularly mental functions like fatigue and depression, neuromuscular functions like gait and muscle strength, and sensory functions like balance. The evidence suggested mindfulness has potential to target multiple elements of the ICF model, though more rigorous trials are needed.

Population

Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (25)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
mindfulness
neutral
MS symptoms
-
-
frequently used for managing
#1
yoga
neutral
MS symptoms
-
-
frequently used for managing
#2
reflexology
neutral
MS symptoms
-
-
frequently used for managing
#3
mindfulness
neutral
mental functions
MS patients
-
used as a CAM therapy for the management of
#4
yoga
neutral
mental functions
MS patients
-
used as a CAM therapy for the management of
#5
mindfulness
neutral
fatigue
MS patients
-
devoted to
#6
yoga
neutral
fatigue
MS patients
-
devoted to
#7
mindfulness
neutral
depression
MS patients
-
devoted to
#8
yoga
neutral
depression
MS patients
-
devoted to
#9
mindfulness
neutral
cognition
MS patients
-
devoted to
#10
yoga
neutral
cognition
MS patients
-
devoted to
#11
mindfulness
neutral
neuromuscular functions
MS patients
-
devoted to
#12
yoga
neutral
neuromuscular functions
MS patients
-
devoted to
#13
mindfulness
neutral
gait
MS patients
-
devoted to
#14
yoga
neutral
gait
MS patients
-
devoted to
#15
mindfulness
neutral
muscle strength
MS patients
-
devoted to
#16
yoga
neutral
muscle strength
MS patients
-
devoted to
#17
mindfulness
neutral
spasticity
MS patients
-
devoted to
#18
yoga
neutral
spasticity
MS patients
-
devoted to
#19
mindfulness
neutral
sensory function
MS patients
-
devoted to
#20
yoga
neutral
sensory function
MS patients
-
devoted to
#21
mindfulness
neutral
balance
MS patients
-
devoted to
#22
yoga
neutral
balance
MS patients
-
devoted to
#23
reflexology
neutral
mental functions
MS patients
-
vastly used to management of
#24
CAM therapies
increase
numerous elements outlined in the ICF model
patients with MS
-
have the potential to target and enhancement
#25
Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disease determined by inflammatory demyelination and neurodegeneration in the Central Nervous System (CNS). Despite the extensive utilization of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) in MS, there is a need to have comprehensive evidence regarding their application in the management of MS symptoms. This manuscript is a Systematic Literature Review and classification (SLR) of CAM therapies for the management of MS symptoms based on the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) model. METHOD: Studies published between 1990 and 2020 IN PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Pro-Quest, and Google Scholar using CAM therapies for the management of MS symptoms were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-one papers on the subject were analyzed and classified. The findings of this review clearly show that mindfulness, yoga, and reflexology were frequently used for managing MS symptoms. Moreover, most of the papers used mindfulness and yoga as a CAM therapy for the management of MS symptoms, which mostly devoted to mental functions such as fatigue, depression, cognition, neuromuscular functions such as gait, muscle strength, and spasticity, and sensory function such as balance, in addition to, reflexology is vastly used to management of mental functions of MS patients. CONCLUSION: Evidence suggested that CAM therapies in patients with MS have the potential to target and enhancement numerous elements outlined in the ICF model. Although the use of CAM therapies in MS symptom management is promising, there is a need for strict clinical trials. Future research direction should concentrate on methodologically powerful studies to find out the potential efficacy of CAM intervention.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
Complementary TherapiesFatigueGaitHumansMultiple SclerosisMuscle Strength
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy75/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations7
Citations/Year2.3
Relative Citation Ratio1.59
NIH Percentile67.1%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.75
Weight Score2.57
Normalized Score0.66
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