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Multiple Sclerosis
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*Heat Illness
*Heel Injuries and Disorders
*Multiple Sclerosis
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Article

Advanced lightweight cooling-garment technology: functional improvements in thermosensitive patients with multiple sclerosis

A Meyer-Heim1, M Rothmaier2, M Weder2, J Kool1, P Schenk3, J Kesselring1

1 Department of Neurology, Rehabilitation Centre, CH-7317 Valens, Switzerland
2 Swiss Federal Institute for Materials Science and Technology (Empa), CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
3 Centre for Organizational and Occupational Sciences ZOA, ETH Zurich, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.


  Abstract

Cooling of thermosensitive patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) can improve clinical symptoms. In order to study the effectiveness of an advanced lightweight cooling-garment technology based on aquatic evaporation, a single-blinded balanced crossover study was performed on 20 patients with an Expanded Disability Status Scale score ≤6.5. The results using a tight-cuff cooling-garment prototype for peripheral cooling suggest improvement of a timed-walking test, leg-strength, fine-motor skills and subjective benefits. Preliminary data of the heart rate variability (HRV) including six patients suggest that the MS patients show an abnormal HRV after sham condition, which is normalized after cooling. Technical information was gained about the cooling activity and the practicability and handling of the device. These encouraging findings promote further adaptations of the prototype to increase its cooling properties and ameliorate the practicability of the cooling garment.

Key Words: cooling, multiple sclerosis, muscle strength, thermosensitivity, walking

First published on January 29, 2007, doi:10.1177/1352458506070648

Multiple Sclerosis 2007;13:232.

A more recent version of this article appeared on March 1, 2007

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