b"Medicine & ResearchDoctors NotesThe MS News column includes analysis from Ben Thrower, M.D., MS Focus senior medical advisor. Dr. Thrower draws from the top news stories of the quarter and explains what the news means to you, the person with MS. Christine Willis, MLIS, AHIP, is the Clinical Information Librarian at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Egleston Hospital.Vibration plates show promiseThis study looked at several issues affecting A randomized controlled trial at a neurologythose living with MS and how they might center in Messina, Italy, examined VibraPlus,be improved with vibration plate therapy. a focal muscle vibration device, in 40 peopleImprovements were seen in walking endurance with relapsing-remitting MS and moderateand fall risk. Interestingly, there were also disability. Participants were assigned to eitherimprovements in fatigue and cognition. vibration training or traditional physical exerciseOCT may prove useful for seven weeks. The vibration group showedfor help measuring PIRA signicant improvements in balance, walkingA new study, conducted at the MS Center at endurance, fatigue perception, and severalthe University Hospital of Basel, in Switzerland, cognitivefunctions,alongwithenhancedexplored retinal changes in people with MS using quality-of-lifemeasuressuchasphysicaloptical coherence tomography, a noninvasive health and sexual function. Researchers alsoeye imaging method. The research involved found correlations between fatigue levels, gait171 participants. Researchers measured the parameters,andquality-of-lifescores. Thethickness of specific retinal layers to assess study concludes that vibration training mayneuronal loss, both in eyes affected and boost motor and nonmotor outcomes in MS,unaffected by previous optic neuritis. Results though larger, long-term trials are needed forshowed signicant thinning in the ganglion conrmation. The ndings were published incell and inner plexiform layers in MS patients, the Journal of Clinical Medicine.even in eyes without a history of optic neuritis, Thrower Vibrationplatesrepresentancompared to controls. This indicates that retinal interesting tool for exercise and rehabilitationneuronal loss can occur in MS regardless of for the MS community. A vibration plate is avisible optic nerve inammation. The study motorized base that oscillates at a high frequency.suggests OCT can serve as a valuable tool for Some devices have a pole with handles todetecting early, subtle nerve damage in MS, help with balance. These devices are used bypotentially aiding in disease monitoring and therapists and exercise specialists in theirtreatmentevaluationbeforemajorvision facilities and are also available for home use.problems develop. The study was published We use these devices at our MS Center andin the Journal of Neurology. have seen benets for balance issues. SomeThrower- Progression independent of relapse research suggests improvements in boneactivity is a topic of great interest in the MS density with vibration plates. msfocusmagazine.org 30"