Razieh Farid - MSc Student, Faculty of Physical Education, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran ; Raziyeh.farid@yahoo.com
Ali-Asghar Norasteh - Associate Professor of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Physical Education, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Hamidreza Hatamian - Professor, Department of Neurology, Poursina Hospital, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease characterized by degradation of the central nervous system myelin which may impair the balance of patients. Core Stability Exercises have been the focus of attention for repairing the stability of some patients.   Objectives: To assess the effect of core stability exercise on the balance of patients with multiple sclerosis. Materials and Methods: In this quasi-experimental (pretest-posttest study with no control group), ۱۵ MS patients have been selected according to convenient sampling and Expanded Disability Status Score (EDSS) of less than ۴.۵. Participants performed core stability program according to the Jeffreys protocol (۲۰۰۲) at ۹ O'clock in the morning over ۸ weeks in summer ۲۰۱۵. Static (in second) and dynamic (in centimeter) balances were measured using modified stork and modified star (Y) tests respectively. Data were analyzed in SPSS-۱۶ using Kolmogorov-Smirnov test to ensure normal distribution of data, and paired t-test to compare mean values before and after exercise program as they have normal distribution.  Results: Mean and standard deviation of static balance were ۳.۵۶±۱.۸۱ and ۱۱.۱۷±۶.۳۶ in pretest and posttest in the dominant foot, and ۳.۶۷±۱.۸۹ and ۹.۴۲±۲.۹۴ in the non-dominant foot, respectively. The sum of the ۳ measurements in Y balance was ۲۵۶.۰۱±۳۲.۶۸ and ۳۴۰.۶۸±۳۸.۳۳ in pretest and posttest in the dominant foot, and ۲۶۲.۳۵±۴۲.۴۹ and ۳۴۴.۵۵±۴۷.۲۵, respectively, in the non-dominant foot (p≤۰.۰۵). Conclusion: The core stability exercise program positively and significantly improved static and dynamic balance of patients with multiple sclerosis.

Exercise, Balance, Multiple Sclerosis