Comparison of the Effect of Eight Weeks Resistance, Balance, and Combined Training Program on Balance, Gait, and Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Pretest-Posttest Intervention

Exercise therapy is a supplementary method for the rehabilitation of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of an 8-week balance, resistance, and combined (balance-resistance) exercise program on balance, gait, and quality of life (QOL) in women with MS.
In the present study, 30 women with MS (mean ± standard deviation of age: 34.6 ± 4.1) were randomly divided into balance, resistance, and combined exercise groups. The Berg Balance Scale, six-minute walk test (6MWT), Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54) questionnaire, and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) were used, respectively, to evaluate balance, gait, and QOL. Patients underwent 3 separate intervention protocols for 8 weeks. The ANOVA, Tukey’s post hoc test, and paired t-test were used for statistical analysis (P Balance and resistance exercises improved balance and resistance and combined exercises improved gait, but they did not significantly affect the patients’ QOL.
It can be concluded that balance and resistance exercises have a positive effect on balance and combined and resistance exercise has positive effects on gait; thus, they can be recommended as a supplementary rehabilitation intervention for women with MS.