Investigation of the Effects of Game Supported Rehabilitation Program on Motor and Cognitive Skills in a Patient with Co-occurrence of Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease: A Case Report

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are progressive central nervous system diseases that cause significant activity limitation and participation restrictions by causing motor and non-motor symptoms in patients. With this case report, we aimed to present the effects of the game-supported rehabilitation in a patient with co-occurrences of MS and PD that we rarely encounter. A 54-year-old female patient with co-occurrence of MS and PD who was mobilized with a wheelchair was evaluated as a case. The patient was treated for 1 hour, 3 days a week for 8 weeks. After a 30-minute neurophysiologic exercise program, the patient was taken to 30-minute game therapy using the “Smart Physiotherapy Game System (USE-IT)”. USE-IT, a game console developed in line with our clinical experience, is also a TUBITAK 1512 project. On the game console, the patient played six games using different grip materials. Before and after the treatment, diseases levels and findings were evaluated using the expanded disability status scale, the modified Hoehn and Yahr scale, and the unified PD rating scale. Frequency of falling was asked to the patient and relatives, rigidity was determined using manual evaluations, muscle strength was assessed through gross muscle strength assessment, cognitive status was evaluated using the Montreal cognitive assessment scale, posture was evaluated with New York posture rating scale, manual skills were evaluated with the Minnesota manual dexterity test, and fatigue was evaluated with fatigue impact scale. Functional condition was evaluated using the functional independence measurement and quality of life was evaluated with MS quality of life questionnaire and PD questionnaire. As a result, it is seen that there are clinically significant improvements in the severity of disease, fatigue, falling, postural disorders, manual skills, physical, cognitive and emotional state, mobility, activities of daily living and quality of life of the patient.

The patient and relatives were informed about the case report and written consent was obtained before starting.

Externally peer-reviewed.

Concept: G.S., M.K., Design: M.K., Data Collection or Processing: G.S., Analysis or Interpretation: G.S., M.K., Literature Search: G.S., M.K., Writing: G.S., M.K.

No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.

The authors declared that this study received no financial support