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

Article type: Original Article 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), 15 MS patients have been selected according to convenient sampling 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 (in second) and dynamic (in centimeter) balances were measured using modified stork and modified star (Y) tests respectively. Data were analyzed in SPSS-16 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 3.56±1.81 and 11.17±6.36 in pretest and posttest in the dominant foot, and 3.67±1.89 and 9.42±2.94 in the non-dominant foot, respectively. The sum of the 3 measurements in Y balance was 256.01±32.68 and 340.68±38.33 in pretest and posttest 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 significantly improved static and dynamic balance of patients with multiple sclerosis.