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:
1 Department of Sport Injury and Corrective Exercises, Faculty of Sport Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
2 Department of Neurology, Medical School, Isfahan Research Committee of Multiple Sclerosis, Isfahan, Iran.
3 Faculty of Sport Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
4 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

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