Relationship Between Trunk and Lower Extremity Muscles and Balance in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory neurodegenerative disease that causes demyelination of nerve fibers. This neurological process causes physical and mental changes in and to the motor, sensory, and cognitive systems. This study aims to determine the relationship between balance and muscle strength in people with multiple sclerosis. This study included 36 MS patients’ ⩾18 years old who were treated and followed up according to routine clinical practice at a university hospital in Türkiye, which were observational, non-invasive, and a control group of 32 patients whose relatives were voluntarily evaluated without any neurological problems. Muscle strength was measured manually. In balance analysis, computerized balance analysis system was used. The mean age of the MS group was 46.14 (SD±7.14) and the mean age of the healthy group (HG) was 42.25 (SD±10.81). While muscles of abdominal, hamstring, hip flexor and extensor, tibialis anterior and tibialis posterior muscle strength were found to be positively significant with balance in the MS group, P0.05). This study revealed significant correlations between balance and strength parameters of trunk and lower extremity muscles. Our study suggests that rehabilitation protocols for MS patients should include a critical strength training program, especially for trunk and lower extremity muscles.