Wearing a cooling vest can help multiple sclerosis patients with muscle strength, fatigue and balance, according to a study published in Neurology, the scientific journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
A majority of MS patients report that their symptoms get worse in high temperatures and that cooler temperatures provide at least temporary relief. Researchers have developed vest and head-vest garments that attach to a box that pumps coolant fluid through tubes in the vest and cap. But few studies have been done to see how effective the vests are.
Tests of the patients' fatigue level, balance and muscle strength were performed before cooling and again three hours after the session. The patients' temperatures were taken every 15 minutes. Researchers also tested the blood for white cell production of nitric oxide, a naturally occurring molecule, before and three hours after the cooling session. Compared to healthy volunteers, white cells in MS patients produced more nitric oxide, which researchers believe plays a role in reducing the activity of damaged or demyelinated neurons in MS and thus contributes to development of symptoms.
Balance improved by about 20 percent for patients who received active cooling, compared to those who received sham cooling. Muscle strength improved about 10 percent. The level of fatigue improved significantly. Nitric oxide decreased by 41 percent in patients who received the active cooling, but those who received sham cooling saw no change.
The patients' temperature did not drop during the cooling.