Helius Medical Technologies(HSDT) GlobeNewswire· Globenewswire·2025-01-22 12:00Core Insights - The PoNS Therapeutic Experience Program (PoNSTEP) study shows long-term beneficial effects of PoNS Therapy on gait deficits in individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) [1][2][5] - Statistically significant improvements in the Dynamic Gait Index (DGI) were observed, with a total mean improvement of 5.00 (from 4.1 to 5.9, p<0.001) at week 14 among participants who completed the treatment [1][6] Study Overview - The study involved 43 patients with mild-to-moderate MS, focusing on gait deficits, and included 14 weeks of rehabilitation with PoNS Therapy [3][9] - The treatment protocol consisted of 2 weeks in a clinical setting (Phase 1) and 12 weeks at home (Phase 2), followed by a 6-month observation period (Phase 3) [3][7] Results and Findings - Of the 41 patients who started the study, 38 completed it, and 29 were evaluated at the 6-month mark [3][6] - The average adherence to therapy was 71% in Phase 2, with a linear association between adherence and gait improvement (r=0.345; p=0.034) [6] - In Phase 1, adherence was 89.5%, but it did not correlate with improvement [6] - Participants with ≥85% adherence in Phase 2 showed a mean improvement of 3.7 points in DGI, while those with <85% adherence improved by 2.0 points, with a statistically significant difference (p=0.008) [6] Long-term Effects - At the 6-month follow-up, only 1 out of 28 participants showed a decline of ≥30% in DGI [6] - The mean decline in DGI was -4.1%, with a 95% confidence interval indicating that the true mean decline was no more than -9.4% (p=0.12) [6] Implications for Therapy - The study reinforces the efficacy of PoNS Therapy in improving gait deficits due to MS and highlights the importance of treatment compliance for achieving lasting therapeutic benefits [2][5] - The findings contribute to understanding the role of neuromodulation and neuroplasticity in rehabilitation for gait function [2][5]