Effect of a 6-Wk Sensory-Motor Exercise Program on the Balance and Fatigue Severity in Women With Multiple Sclerosis

ABSTRACT Objective This study aimed to investigate the impact of six weeks of at-home sensory-motor exercises on balance and fatigue levels in women with multiple sclerosis, a progressive autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. MS symptoms can significantly reduce quality of life. Design In this Quasi-Experimental Study, 26 MS female patients aged 20-40 with an EDSS of 0-4 were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. The experimental group performed sensory-motor exercises for six weeks, three sessions a week and for one hour at home. Balance and fatigue were evaluated with Sharpened-Romberg tests (for Static Balance), a 6-step test of Get-Up and Go (for Dynamic Balance) and a Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS). At the end of the sixth week, these tests were re-evaluated like the pre-test stage. Results Experimental group showed better static balance and FSS than control group, but no difference in dynamic balance. Conclusions Considering the outbreak of Covid-19 and the resultant lockdown, the importance of exercise and physical activities in patients with MS, and the positive effects of sensory-motor exercises at home in the present study, these kinds of sensory-motor workouts are highly recommended to improve balance and reduce the fatigue in MS patients.