TEAMS Study for People with Multiple Sclerosis

February 20, 2020
TEAMS Study for People with Multiple Sclerosis

Tele-Rehabilitation vs. In-Clinic Therapy for People with Multiple Sclerosis

Finding adequate care that's close to home can be difficult. It's even more difficult for people with Multiple Sclerosis. This is especially true for people who reside in rural areas in Alabama and Tennessee. Tele-rehabilitation could be a great option for people who are unable to come to treatments on a regular basis. But is tele-rehabilitation as effective as therapy in the clinic? To find out, researchers at UAB have teamed with clinics throughout Alabama and Tennessee to complete a study. They want to determine if tele-rehabilitation is effective for patients with Mutliple Sclerosis. The study is called Tele-Exercise and Multiple Sclerosis (TEAMS) and Therapy Achievements is proud to be a TEAMS Study clinic.

How the TEAMS Study Works

Participants in the TEAMS study are randomly assigned to be in one of two groups. In the TeleCAM group, participants complete the program at home using a tablet. In the DirectCAM group, participants complete the program at a therapy clinic near their home. The goal of the study is to find out if the Telerehab is as effective as in-clinic treatment.

If you are assigned to the TeleCAM branch of the study, you will complete baseline testing in a clinic near your home. This determines what level of exercise is the correct for you. You will be given the exercise equipment you need for that level and a tablet that contains videos of your exercise program. You will be re-tested at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months to determine your progress.

If you are assigned to the DirectCAM branch of the study, you will complete the whole program at a clinic nearest to where you live. You will complete baseline testing and attend sessions twice a week for 8 weeks at the clinic. Sessions will drop to once a week for then next 4 weeks. Thereafter, you will be re-tested at 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months to determine your progress.

The TEAMS study will span 4 years and involve over 800 participants. Therapy Achievements is honored to have been selected as a clinical site from the onset of the study. We have been working with participants for two years now. We have seen our participants make great improvements and look forward to helping make a difference in the MS World. If you or a loved one are wanting to seek treatment for Multiple Sclerosis, this study may be a good option to see how treatment works best for you.

COVID 19 Update

As this study continues, participants assigned to the TeleCAM brand will now complete testing at home. They will be issued testing equipment and the evaluating therapist will use a video chat program called Zoom to complete the baseline and re-testing. This is an exciting option that will begin soon and we are looking forward to it.

An application for TEAMS is available on the TEAMS website. More information on treatment for Multiple Sclerosis through Therapy Achievements can be found here.