The Effect of Core Stability Exercise Program on the Balance of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease characterized bydegradation of the central nervous system myelin which may impair the balanceof patients. Core Stability Exercises have been the focus of attention forrepairing the stability of some patients.Objectives: To assess the effect of core stability exercise on the balance ofpatients with multiple sclerosis.Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental (pretest-posttest study withno control group), 15 MS patients have been selected according to convenientsampling and Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) of less than 4.5.Participants performed core stability program according to the Jeffreys protocol(2002) at 9 O clock in the morning over 8 weeks in summer 2015. Static (insecond) and dynamic (in centimeter) balances were measured using modifiedstork and modified star (Y) tests respectively. Data were analyzed in SPSS-16using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to ensure normal distribution of data, andpaired t-test to compare mean values before and after exercise program as theyhave normal distribution.Results: Mean and standard deviation of static balance were 3.56±1.81 and11.17±6.36 in pretest and posttest in the dominant foot, and 3.67±1.89 and9.42±2.94 in the non-dominant foot, respectively. The sum of the 3measurements in Y balance was 256.01±32.68 and 340.68±38.33 in pretest andposttest in the dominant foot, and 262.35±42.49 and 344.55±47.25,respectively, in the non-dominant foot (p≤0.05).Conclusion: The core stability exercise program positively and significantlyimproved static and dynamic balance of patients with multiple sclerosis.

کلیدواژه ها:

Exercise ، Balance ، Multiple Sclerosis