FAQ

Last modified on: 9/7/2025

RiMS (Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis) is the European network dedicated to advancing best practice and research in the rehabilitation of people with Multiple Sclerosis. Our main objective is to promote evidence-based rehabilitation that enhances independence, activity, and participation. We bring together healthcare professionals, researchers, and patient organisations to:

• Raise awareness of the importance of rehabilitation at every stage of Multiple Sclerosis.
• Facilitate collaboration between clinicians and researchers.
• Support the integration of the latest knowledge into daily care.

Our vision is that everyone with Multiple Sclerosis across Europe has timely access to high-quality rehabilitation tailored to their individual needs.

Last modified on: 9/7/2025

There are different levels of involvement:

1. Stay informed: Subscribe to our newsletter and e-announcements to receive updates about RiMS and the field of Multiple Sclerosis rehabilitation. You can find the form in the bottom of our Home page.
2. Create a Free Account:  This allows you to register for events, join a Special Interest Group (SIG) as an observer, and receive our communications.
3. Become a Member: Paid memberships provide full benefits, including access to exclusive content, discounts for events, voting rights, and the opportunity to actively shape the strategic direction of RiMS.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

RiMS organises a wide range of activities to connect people, advance knowledge, and promote evidence-based rehabilitation:

• Annual Conference bringing together experts, researchers, and clinicians to share the latest developments.
• Live education events, both standalone and in collaboration with other organisations in the field.
• Special Interest Group (SIG) meetings and workshops focused on specific rehabilitation topics.
• Webinars to provide accesible online learning opportunities.
• Research and funding initiatives, including:
  
  • Research Grants (RiGRa) and a Fellowship Exchange Programme to support early-career professionals and promote international knowledge exchange.
  • Collaborative research projects initiated and coordinated within RiMS and its SIGs.
  • Partnerships in European-funded projects, such as GESTUS (rehabilitation and performance monitoring), TEN4CARE (innovative biomaterials for tendon and ligament repair), and PROMS (integrating patient perspectives in research and care).

Through these activities, RiMS fosters collaboration, generates new evidence, and helps translate research into better care and outcomes for people with Multiple Sclerosis.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

RiMS is open to everyone with an interest in rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis. Whether you are a healthcare professional, researcher, student, person living with Multiple Sclerosis, caregiver, or simply someone who wishes to learn more, you are welcome to become part of our network. RiMS offers different levels of involvement — from subscribing to our newsletter and creating a free account to becoming a full member with access to exclusive benefits.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

SIGs are expert groups created by the RiMS Executive Board to advance research and practice in specific areas of rehabilitation for people with Multiple Sclerosis. Each SIG brings together clinicians, researchers, and professionals to:

• Collaborate on focused topics.
• Share expertise and stimulate evidence-based practices.
• Support people with Multiple Sclerosis and their caregivers.

SIGs meet annually at the RiMS Conference and may also organise workshops during the year. Active SIGs receive financial and organisational support from RiMS.
Current SIGs include:

1. Mobility
2. Bladder, Bowel & Sexuality
3. Mood & Cognition
4. Communication & Swallowing
5. Occupation
6. Patient Autonomy

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

To join a SIG:

• Create a Free Account and select up to two SIGs of interest in the sign up form. You will be added to the SIG member list and can attend meetings and workshops as an observer.
• To fully participate in SIG activities (e.g., projects, leadership roles, member-only e-learning, discounts on workshops), you need a Paid RiMS Membership.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

Joining a SIG allows you to:

• Stay up to date with the latest clinical expertise and therapeutic approaches.
• Participate in collaborative research and help interpret new findings.
• Contribute to international knowledge exchange.
• Take part in publications and multicentre research collaborations.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

No. You do not need to be a specialist to join a SIG. SIGs are open to all RiMS members and free account holders who have an interest in the specific topic. While leadership roles and active project participation are generally taken on by professionals with relevant expertise, anyone can join as an observer, attend workshops, and benefit from the knowledge exchange within the group.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

Creating a Free Account is the easiest way to connect with RiMS. With a Free Account you can:

• Join our mailing list and receive periodic newsletters with updates on events, opportunities, and research.
• Register for RiMS live webinars and in-person education events (without discounts).
• Join up to two Special Interest Groups (SIGs) as an observer and participate in their meetings and discussions.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

A Free Membership gives you formal recognition within RiMS. While it offers the same benefits as a Free Account, you can also publicly list your RiMS membership status on your CV, professional bio, or institutional profile. This demonstrates your commitment to evidence-based rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

Paid Memberships unlock the full range of RiMS opportunities, including:

• Full participation in SIGs: contribute to projects, take on leadership roles, and access SIG-specific resources.
• Discounts on registration fees for the RiMS Annual Conference, workshops, and SIG meetings.
• Access to grants and fellowships, including RiMS Research Grants (RiGRa) and the Fellowship Exchange Programme.
• Exclusive e-learning resources, including member-only courses and live teaching sessions.
• Voting rights in the RiMS General Assembly and eligibility for leadership positions.
• Networking opportunities with professionals across Europe working in Multiple Sclerosis rehabilitation.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

RiMS offers three types of paid membership, depending on your profile:

• Early Career Membership – for students in healthcare-related curricula or healthcare professionals within their first five years of practice.
• Individual Membership – for professionals active in Multiple Sclerosis research, treatment, education, or rehabilitation.
• Center Membership – for Multiple Sclerosis and rehabilitation centers, research groups, or healthcare institutions with six or more professionals.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

Yes. You can upgrade from a Free Membership to any of the Paid Membership types at any time. Simply choose the membership type that best fits your profile — Early Career, Individual, or Center — and complete the subscription process. Your new membership will start immediately, giving you access to all the exclusive benefits of Paid Membership.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

Yes. Restrictions apply only to the Early Career Membership, which is reserved for students and healthcare professionals within their first five years of work. All other memberships are open to any eligible professionals or centres.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

RiMS accepts membership payments by wire transfer and by secure online card payment.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

No. Memberships do not renew automatically. You will receive a reminder email close to the expiration date with instructions on how to renew.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

All memberships are valid for one year (365 days) from the day of subscription.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

Shortly before your membership expires, you will receive a reminder email with renewal instructions. Simply follow the provided steps to extend your membership for another year.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

If your organisation has a Centre Membership, all staff members with the same professional email domain as the Centre Membership Manager are automatically recognised as Individual Members by affiliation. They receive the same benefits as Individual Members, except:

• They do not have voting rights in the General Assembly.
• They do not receive renewal notifications (their affiliation depends on the Centre’s active membership).

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

The Centre Membership Manager is the person who creates or manages the Centre Membership. This role comes with specific responsibilities:

• Receives renewal reminders and ensures the membership renewal is paid on time.
• Receives our Newsletters and e-announcements.
• Receives invitations to the General Assembly and assigns up to six staff members with voting rights.
• Coordinates attendance for the Member Centre Leadership Meeting, ensuring their centre is represented.

When signing up, it is crucial that this person uses their professional email, so that colleagues under the same email domain are inherit the Individual Membership by Affiliation.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

RiMS offers a variety of events and educational content, with exclusive benefits for members:

• Webinars – free to attend for everyone, but recordings are available on the RiMS platform for paying members only.
• E-learning resources – including conference lectures, event notes, podcasts, outcome measures, expert articles, and more.
• General Assembly – participation is reserved for RiMS members.
• Conferences, workshops, and joint events – open to everyone, with discounted registration fees for RiMS members.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

You can find all upcoming events in the Live Education section of our website. We also send reminders by email. To sign up, you need to have a RiMS account (Free or Paid). If you don’t have one yet, you can create it during the registration process. Having an account ensures your details are correctly processed for tickets and invoices.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

Yes, but it depends on the type of event:

• Webinars: All RiMS webinars are recorded, and the recordings are available exclusively to paying members through the RiMS platform.
• Other events and meetings (such as workshops or SIG meetings): These are usually not recorded, but in most cases RiMS uploads meeting notes afterwards. This way, even if you cannot attend live, you can still access the main outcomes and updates.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

Log in to your RiMS account and go to My Account → Communication Preferences. From there, simply check or uncheck the boxes for the communications you wish to receive. Your preferences are saved automatically and will apply to all future communications.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

• The Newsletter is sent twice a year and provides a broad overview of the latest updates in Multiple Sclerosis rehabilitation, RiMS activities, upcoming events, and educational content.
• E-Announcements are sent more frequently (every few weeks). They are shorter, focused messages announcing immediate news, events, open calls for research grants, or fellowship opportunities.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

If you are not receiving RiMS newsletters or e-announcements, please check the following:

1. Spam/junk folder – Emails may sometimes be filtered there.
2. Communication preferences – Log in to your RiMS account, go to My account → Communication Preferences, and make sure the boxes for newsletters and e-announcements are correctly selected.
3. Add RiMS to your contacts – Add secretariat@rehabinms.org to your email address book or contact list. This process is often called “whitelisting,” and it helps ensure that your email provider recognises our messages as safe and delivers them to your inbox.

If you have checked all of the above and still do not receive emails, please contact us.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

The RiMS Research Grant (RiGRa) supports innovative projects in Multiple Sclerosis rehabilitation. It is designed to encourage collaboration and provide funding for studies that generate new knowledge and improve patient care. To apply, visit the Research Grant page, where you’ll find the eligibility criteria, application form, and current deadlines.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

The RiMS Fellowship Exchange Programme supports early-career professionals by funding short stays at rehabilitation centres or research institutions across Europe. The aim is to promote international knowledge exchange, skill development, and collaboration in Multiple Sclerosis rehabilitation. Application requirements and instructions are available on the Fellowship page.

Last modified on: 9/8/2025

Calls are updated regularly. Please check the designated pages for the Research Grant and Fellowship Programme to see if applications are currently open. Make sure to carefully follow all steps listed there for submitting your application.

Who can apply for RiGRa and Fellowships?

• RiMS Research Grant (RiGRa): Applications are typically open to early-career researchers and professionals working in the field of Multiple Sclerosis rehabilitation. Applicants should be involved in a project that promotes evidence-based practice and international collaboration.
• RiMS Fellowship Exchange Programme: This is designed for early-career clinicians and researchers who want to gain international experience by visiting a rehabilitation centre or research institution abroad. The goal is to promote skill development, networking, and knowledge exchange across Europe.