J Mult Scler Res. 2021; 1(3): 54-68 | DOI: 10.4274/jmsr.galenos.2021.2021-10-3

Technology-Based Rehabilitation in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Narrative Review

Hilal Karakas¹, Barbara Seebacher², Turhan Kahraman^3
1Izmir Katip Celebi University, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Izmir, Turkey
²Medical University of Innsbruck, Clinical Department of Neurology, Innsbruck, Austria and Rehab Centre Muenster, Department of Rehabilitation Research, Muenster, Austria
³Izmir Katip Celebi University Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Izmir, Turkey

With the overall progress of technology, developing technological approaches has become an integral part of modern society, and using advanced technology in rehabilitation has gained increasing importance. This narrative review discusses the role of technology-based rehabilitation in people with multiple sclerosis by presenting the evidence, advantages, and disadvantages of robotic rehabilitation, virtual reality training applications, telerehabilitation, and movement analysis systems. Technological systems used in rehabilitation are based on motor learning principles by providing task-specific and highly repetitive activities. Current scientific evidence emphasizes that significant gains in ambulation and upper extremity function can be achieved with technological approaches. The use of technological approaches in multiple sclerosis rehabilitation, despite being challenging in terms of cost and accessibility, is promising and has enormous potential for the future. However, although the evidence supports the use of technological systems in multiple sclerosis rehabilitation, well-designed studies with a larger sample size are needed.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, biomedical technology, robotics, virtual reality, telerehabilitation, remote sensing technology

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