Effect of Instructions for Internal and Far and Near External Focus of Attention on Balance of Multiple Sclerosis Patients

The Multiple sclerosis is chronic and progressive neurological disease. MS is a Leading to various symptoms such as imbalance. Focus af attention is one of the major components of learning skill motor that is divided into two parts internal focus and external focus. Identifying the best type of focus can be an improved Problem of imbalance and fall risk in MS patients significantly. This research is quasi-experimental. A total of 30 patients with MS participated in this study with (20-45) age range. Patients were divided into 3 groups: internal focus، near external focus and far external focus. Each group with specific instructions had to keep their balance on Biodex. Results showed that a significant level of acquisition for internal group was p=0/41، for near external group p= 0/01 and for far external group p=0/002 Significance level was considered as p ≤ 0/05. These results indicated that internal focus of attention on the acquisition and learning the balance task was not effective، While the instructions for far and near external focus on the acquisition and learning the balance task were effective and patients may lead to improved balance. For data collection، tool was used to measure balance. Balance of participants in both near and far external instructions were improved and progressed in both groups but the average performance of these two groups was almost better than the one with internal instructions.