Qualitative Study Affirms Value of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy for MS

Patients asked about the value of physiotherapy and occupational therapy for use in managing multiple sclerosis (MS) affirmed that both methods of therapy were valuable for them as individualized care, according to a new study published in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders.¹

Patients with MS continue to be affected by the condition throughout their lives, as it primarily affects their central nervous systems. The severity of this disease can vary by patient, which makes continuous monitoring valuable through different health care providers, including the occupational therapist and physiotherapist that patients see to manage their condition.² Studies on how important patients with MS view their physiotherapy and occupational therapy have not previously been conducted. This study aimed to assess the importance of this care to people with MS in a qualitative study.

Participants were recruited through newsletters, social media platforms, announcements on web pages, and through digital patient and professional networks in the Netherlands. Participants needed to be aged 18 years or older, willing to share experiences with therapy, and diagnosed with MS. Participants all underwent individual in-depth interviews in a place of the participant’s choosing as part of the study. Variation in gender, age, geographic location, and MS duration was achieved through purposive sampling. All interviews were transcribed for consideration in the study.

There were 23 participants in the study, where the median age was 50 (range, 32-79) years and of whom 15 were women. The median duration of the disease was 13 (range, 2-32) years. Experience with physiotherapy was reported by 22 of the participants, and 16 participants reported experience with occupational therapy.

There were 5 themes that summarized the patient values: the patient, the therapist, the patient-therapist relationship, the therapy, and the collaboration between care providers. These themes were further split into 16 subthemes. Overall, the participants valued guidance from expert physiotherapists and occupational therapists that was tailored for them and led to a building of trust with the health care provider. The effectiveness of therapy relied on open communication, regular evaluation, and attention to all aspects of health on the physical, psychological, and social sides. The participants also valued the ability to be autonomous, with practical exercises and adaptations to daily functioning being key to their quality of life.

The patients also noted that needs can change over time starting from adapting to the diagnosis and recovery from physical symptoms and then moving toward maintenance and self-management. Patients go on to make decisions regarding their therapy and daily activities, which can shift the therapist into a coaching role. Recurring elements of therapy were finding meaning, accepting the diagnosis, and seeking a new balance.

There were some limitations to this study. The researchers were not able to recruit any participants who lacked access to therapy. Some participants of the study played an active role in patient advocacy, which could have introduced selection bias. Age- and gender-specific effects on outcomes were not analyzed. The health care setting was also not addressed in the study.

“Commonalities in the interviews revealed that participants highly value physiotherapy and occupational therapy," the authors concluded. "For clinical practice, these results emphasize the importance of regular reevaluation, personalized and adaptive therapy, open communication, and effective collaboration between care providers.”

References

1. Becerkman H, Coppers JPMA, Eijssen ICJM. Perceived value of physiotherapy and occupational therapy among people with multiple sclerosis: insights from qualitative interview study. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2026;109:107112. doi:10.1016/j.msard.2026.107112
2. Multiple sclerosis. Cleveland Clinic. Updated January 25, 2024. Accessed March 17, 2026. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17248-multiple-sclerosis