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RIMS Newsletter May 2021

 

Dear colleagues,

During this month’s newsletter, we would like to give special attention to our Special Interest Groups. Find out for which SIG groups we are looking for a new (co-) chair and have a look at the upcoming SIG in-between meetings. The SIG mobility would appreciate if you could fill in their survey in order to understand the impact of COVID-19 on physical activity and physiotherapy practices.

Special Interest Groups

Special Interest Groups or SIG’s aim to promote research, stimulate evidence-based rehabilitation and to support people with MS and their caregivers in living with MS. Traditionally, an intensive ‘in-between’ meeting of 1,5 to 2 days takes place between conferences. During ‘in-between’ SIG meetings at one of the member centres across Europe, there are scientific and clinical presentations on a chosen topic as well as free presentations. A clinical or practical session (e.g. patient cases, demonstration of technology; visit to a centre) is often part of the meeting.

Elections SIG chairs and co-chairs

Our SIG’s are led by one chair and one co-chair. Unfortunately, we will have to say goodbye to some of them. Here below you can find an overview of the open positions:

  • Bladder, Bowel and Sexuality: looking for a new chair
  • Communication and Swallowing: looking for a new co-chair
  • Psychology and Neuropsychology: looking for a new chair

As a SIG (co-) chair, you are responsible for the organisation of a SIG in-between meeting together with a local organizer and one SIG meeting in the margins of the Annual Conference. You will operate in close contact with our SIG Coordinator Piet Eelen and with the RIMS Secretariat. In addition, you will communicate with your SIG members and create a positive environment for collaborative projects.

Are you interested in becoming one of these (co-)chairs? Send an email to RIMS Secretariat including your CV and motivational letter before June 17 and we will share this with the correct SIG chair. The elections will take place during our next Annual Conference.

Special thanks to our SIG chairs and co-chairs

We would like to thank all our SIG chairs and co-chairs for their time and efforts they have made in this difficult year.

Moreover, we would like to express our special appreciation to our leaving chairs: Jana Pöttgen (Psychology and Neuropsychology), Leonie Ruhaak (Communication and Swallowing) and Doreen McClurg (Bladder, Bowel and Sexuality).

Congratulations to Leena Maria Heikkola, who will become the new chair for the SIG Communication & Swallowing.

A full overview of our (co-)chairs can be found on the euRIMS website.

Upcoming SIG in-between meetings

SIG Occupation – September 2021

During this past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced our possibilities for participation in social life, work life and for many people daily routines and personal activities. Participation and managing daily life is important for everyone. Life balance and engagement in daily life might be factors of life we take for granted.

Persons with MS can experience limitations in activities and participation during the course of the disease. SIG Occupation is an interdisciplinary network of health care professionals with an interest in enhancing activity and participation for persons with MS.

We are planning a one-day digital in-between meeting for SIG Occupation in September with Sinéad Hynes, PhD, in Galway, Ireland as local host. More information regarding theme, program, date and time will come before the Summer holiday.

For information about our group, please contact ingergrethe.loyning@mssenteret.no or sofie.ferdinand@mscenter.be

SIG Patient Autonomy & Mobility – September 2021

The SIG Patient Autonomy and SIG Mobility are planning to organise a shared meeting at the beginning of October. More information regarding this online will follow soon.

SIG meetings during the Annual Conference – November 2021

All SIG’s will organise a meeting on the second day (November 27) of our Annual RIMS Conference. Participation is free of charge for conference participants, but registration for the meetings is required. Select your preferred meeting while registering for the conference via: www.rims-annualconference.org/Digital2021

REGISTER HERE!

More information regarding the programmes will follow soon via our website.

header register RIMS AC2021 1200x300px

Previous SIG meetings

SIG Patient Autonomy – report in-between meeting March

Our SIG Patient Autonomy kicked-off the year with the first digital meeting. A summary of the meeting can be found here.

Survey regarding the Impact of COVID-19

ECTRIMS - Paper “Impact of COVID-19 on multiple sclerosis care and management”

Dear Sir, Dear Madam,

The Special Interest Group Mobility of the Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis (RIMS) network is launching an international survey study in order to understand the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity and physiotherapy practices. The study focuses on perspectives from both physiotherapists and from people with multiple sclerosis. The survey takes 15-20 minutes to complete, and the links can be found below in several different languages (separate surveys for people with MS and for physical therapists).

Can we kindly ask you to complete the survey and/or share the invitations (including links) below?

  • with your network of physical therapists working with people
  • with multiple sclerosis with people with multiple sclerosis

More information about the aims of the study is found on the first page of the link.

Thank you for your contribution in advance.

Kind regards,
Prof. Daphne Kos
On behalf of collaborating partners
Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis (RIMS - www.eurims.org)

RIMS survey on impact of COVID pandemic on physical activity and physical therapy practice

During the COVID-19 pandemic we all had to change our habits. To explore changes in physical activity of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and changes in physical therapy services for people with MS (access, type of treatment, delivery mode, practical, etc) during the COVID pandemic, the RIMS (Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis) network initiated this survey study.

The study involves a survey on the experiences of people with MS with physical activity participation (physiotherapy, exercise and/or leisure activities) both before the COVID pandemic and in current times.

Besides, the study involves a short survey on the experiences of physical therapists about the delivery of their physiotherapy practice both before the COVID pandemic and in current times.

The study includes a mixture of both closed and open-ended questions, and should take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. There are separate survey links for people with MS and therapists.

Thank you for participating!

RIMS Memberships

Planning to join us at the RIMS Annual Conference, to participate in a SIG meeting this year or just interested in (continue) joining the RIMS community? Become a RIMS member, or renew your membership and profit from a whole series of RIMS Membership benefits in 2021.

Go to the euRIMS website and select your membership plan now! Your membership is valid for 1 year and will expire on 31 December 2021. Already a RIMS member? Have a look at the procedure to renew or re-active your existing membership.

RIMS Social Media

LinkedIn

Join the RIMS group 'RIMS - European Network for best Practice and Research in MS Rehabilitation' and stay posted on the RIMS activities!

Twitter

Have some news? Use our twitter account @euRIMS!
https://twitter.com/eurims

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