Exercise offers tremendous benefits for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Dr Yvonne Learmonth is on a mission to get more people moving their feet.
Research has long established that exercise is safe and improves many clinical outcomes for people with MS, including physical fitness, functional abilities, fatigue, depression and cognitive function.
However, many people with MS do not engage in the levels of exercise required to offer the best health outcomes for their condition. Dr Yvonne Learmonth is changing this.
Dr Learmonth has already developed and tested a remote telehealth delivered exercise framework with great success and is poised to roll that out to professionals who can reach more people.
The telehealth approach proved to be a real benefit in reaching remote communities or cities where they might not have access to exercise physiologists or physiotherapists."“Now it’s time to get it into more people’s lives by training other people to deliver it. The work we’re now doing with MS Australia will develop and test an online education tool to train MS exercise physiologists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists to deliver the program.”
Dr Yvonne Learmonth
MS Australia, a longtime supporter of Dr Learmonth’s important work, is funding this next phase of clinical studies and trials, with a $225,000 grant for three years.
“We want to increase access to exercise treatment for all people with MS and really empower them to take ownership of their own health with the guidance of healthcare professionals,” said Dr Learmonth.
This work will also include preparations for a large-scale roll-out of the exercise framework she has developed. Dr Learmonth will identify the cost of healthcare provider training and the outcomes, mechanisms and contexts which make the framework realistic for delivery within the Australian healthcare system.
Exercise is one of the best ways to alleviate symptoms and through this work, Dr Learmonth continues to lead the development and delivery of programs that have a real impact on the quality of life of people living with MS.
“As a physiotherapist, I am aware of the unique privilege we have to positively influence the health choices of people with MS,” said Dr Learmonth.
“The community exercise class I set up for people living with MS during my PhD at the University of Glasgow is still going today. That was ten years ago, and I’ve been lucky enough to continue my MS research at the University of Illinois and now at Murdoch University in Perth.”
“This next phase of my work will lead to more people experiencing the lifelong benefits of exercise and reduce MS symptom burden and disease progression.”
Rohan Greenland, CEO of MS Australia, said this research funding round was a major milestone for the organisation.
“We’re delighted to mark our 50th anniversary by announcing landmark funding of $6.9 million for new research,” said Greenland.
We are at a critical point where we need to supercharge our research efforts."
Rohan Greenland, CEO of MS Australia
“By supporting Australian researchers such as Dr Yvonne Learmonth and her work towards delivering healthcare provider training for remote exercise delivery in MS, we have a much greater opportunity to make the big gains in MS that are still so desperately needed."
Find out more about MS Australia and the 2022 grant round.
About MS Australia
MS Australia is Australia’s national multiple sclerosis (MS) not-for-profit organisation that empowers researchers to identify ways to treat, prevent and cure MS, seeks sustained and systemic policy change via advocacy, and acts as the national champion for Australia’s community of people affected by MS.
MS Australia represents and collaborates with its Member Organisations, people with MS, their carers, families and friends and various national and international bodies to:
• Fund, coordinate, educate and advocate for MS research as part of the worldwide effort to solve MS
• Provide the latest evidence-based information and resources
• Help meet the needs of people affected by MS
This research supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.