Course Description

This comprehensive course provides a deep dive into the clinical management of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), designed to equip physical therapy professionals with the tools to navigate this complex, variable disease across the entire care continuum.

Participants will begin with a review of MS pathology as an autoimmune process of inflammation, demyelination, and axonal degeneration within the CNS. Clinical review and implications of the four primary MS subtypes will be shared. The session will focus on clinical practice by identifying key impairments of MS and functional considerations tailored for PTs and PTAs across various healthcare settings.

Highlights include:

• Evidence Updates: A review of current research regarding PT-focused and exercise-based interventions across the disability spectrum.
• Clinical Resources: Practical tools to improve rehabilitation outcomes and support long-term wellness for people living with MS.
• Case Application: A brief, interactive case study to synthesize learning and apply evidence-based strategies to real-world clinical scenarios.

Learning Objectives

• Recall the autoimmune mechanisms of Multiple Sclerosis, specifically the roles of inflammation, demyelination, and axonal loss in the Central Nervous System (CNS).
• Differentiate between the four primary clinical subtypes of MS (RRMS, SPMS, PPMS, and PRMS) based on disease progression and clinical presentation.
• Identify key strategies for managing fatigue and heat sensitivity to optimize functional outcomes for people living with multiple sclerosis.
• Describe key exercise-based intervention strategies based on updated evidence for people living with multiple sclerosis across disability status