SPECIAL ARTICLE   Free access

European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine 2022 April;58(2):271-9

DOI: 10.23736/S1973-9087.21.07120-3

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

lingua: Inglese

Evidence-based position paper on Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine practice for people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Milica LAZOVIC ^{1, 2} ✉, Dejan NIKOLIC ^{1, 3}, François C. BOYER ⁴, Kristian BORG ⁵, Maria G. CERAVOLO ⁶, Mauro ZAMPOLINI ⁷, Carlotte KIEKENS ⁸

¹ Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia; ² Institute for Rehabilitation, Belgrade, Serbia; ³ Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Children’s Hospital, Belgrade, Serbia; ⁴ Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, Reims Champagne Ardenne University, Sebastopol Hospital, Reims, France; ⁵ Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; ⁶ Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Neurorehabilitation Clinic, University Hospital of Ancona, Politecnica delle Marche University, Ancona, Italy; ⁷ Department of Rehabilitation, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Foligno, Perugia, Italy; ⁸ IRCCS Multimedica, Milan, Italy

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive motor neuron disease that affects both upper and lower motor neurons and is fatal in its course. This evidence-based position paper represents the official position of the UEMS PRM Section. The aim of the paper is to define the role of the physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) physician and PRM professional practice for people with ALS. A systematic review of the literature and a consensus procedure by means of a Delphi process have been performed involving the delegates of all European countries represented in the UEMS PRM Section. The systematic literature review is reported together with thirty-two recommendations resulting from the Delphi procedure. The responsibility of the PRM physician is functional assessment of persons with ALS and delivering the optimal and most effective PRM program of care. The rehabilitation program of patients with ALS should be delivered and monitored by the multiprofessional team, with the PRM physician as principal coordinator.

KEY WORDS: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Rehabilitation; Health planning guidelines