Effect of eight weeks Yoga and core stabilization exercises on balance in women with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system in which the myelin of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) is damaged. The most common symptoms are double vision, tremor, muscle cramps, ataxia, and abnormal gait. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 8-weeks core stabilization and Yoga exercises on balance in MS patients.
The study samples were 36 women with MS (25 to 40 years) with the EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale) level of disability of 3 to 6. Patients were randomly divided into 3 groups. 12 patients in the group of core stabilization exercises (2 sessions per week, 40-30 minutes), 12 patients were in group Yoga (3 times a week, each session lasting 70-60 minutes practice Hatha Yoga), and the 12 patients in the control group. Patients exercised for eight weeks. Balance of patients before and after 8 weeks of training was analyzed. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 16, p≥0.05 was considered significant.
The balance between pre-test and post-test in Hatha Yoga exercise group (33.75 vs. 43.08) and core stabilization exercise group (37 vs. 47.08), significantly improved (p≤0.05). But there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p≥0.05).
Core stabilization exercises and Yoga can improve balance in patients with MS. On the other hand, no significant differences between two groups’ balance after exercise depicted the same effectiveness of both types of exercise to improve balance in MS patients.