Effect of Neuromuscular Exercises on Strength, Proprioceptive Receptors, and Balance in Females with Multiple Sclerosis


Author: Maryam K Sokhangu1, Nader Rahnama1, Masoud Etemadifar2, Mehdi Rafeii3, Ali Saberi4

Affiliation: <sup>1</sup> Department of Sport Injury and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

<sup>2</sup> Department of Neurology, Medical School, Isfahan Research Committee of Multiple Sclerosis, Isfahan, Iran.

<sup>3</sup> Faculty of Sport Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.

<sup>4</sup> Department of Sport Management, Faculty of Management, Farabi Campus, University of Tehran, Iran.
Conference/Journal: Int J Prev Med
Date published: 2021 Jan 19
Other:
 Volume ID: 12   ,  Pages: 5   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_525_18.   ,  Word Count: 200  
    Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the third most common cause of adult neurologic disabilities. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of 8 weeks of neuromuscular exercises on strength, proprioceptive receptors, and balance of women with MS.



Methods:

In this randomized controlled trial study, 20 female volunteers with relapsing-remitting MS were randomly assigned into the experimental group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Maximum muscular strength of knee extensor and flexor muscles, knee joint proprioceptive error (Biodex), and balance (Berg Balance Scale) was measured at baseline and after 8 weeks of neuromuscular exercise. The data were analyzed using paired t-test and independent t-test.



Results:

The results showed a significant improvement (P < 0.05) in the quadriceps strength, hamstring strength, proprioceptive receptor error, and the balance in the experimental group, but not in the control group. A significant difference was evident between the experimental and control groups in terms of strength, balance, and proprioceptive receptor error (P < 0.05).



Conclusions:

Neuromuscular exercise training is effective in improving balance, strength, and reducing the proprioceptive error in people with MS, and it could be recommended as modalities for these patients.



Keywords: Balance; maximum strength; multiple sclerosis; neuromuscular exercises; proprioceptive error.



PMID: 34084302 PMCID: PMC8106275 DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_525_18