Balance, Multiple Sclerosis
Conditions
Brief summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by demyelination and axonal degeneration. Neuromuscular impairments associated with MS, including muscle weakness, spasticity, fatigue, and proprioceptive deficits, may lead to alterations in spinal posture and reduced spinal mobility. These changes can negatively affect trunk control, balance, respiratory function, and functional independence. Although postural abnormalities and mobility limitations have been reported in individuals with MS, the relationship between spinal posture, spinal mobility, and balance remains insufficiently investigated. Therefore, this study aims to examine the associations between spinal posture, spinal mobility, and balance performance in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Improved understanding of these relationships may contribute to the development of targeted rehabilitation interventions aimed at enhancing postural control and functional outcomes in this population. This study further hypothesises that alterations in spinal posture and spinal mobility are associated with impaired balance performance in individuals with multiple sclerosis.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University
Study design
Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) * Aged between 18 and 65 years * EDSS score between 0.5 and 4.5 * Standardized Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥24
Exclusion criteria
* Receipt of corticosteroid treatment within the previous 4 weeks * Presence of any additional neurological disorder * Spasticity defined as a Modified Ashworth Scale score ≥3 * History of surgical intervention involving the lower extremities, spine, or abdominal region
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Spinal alignment | 1 hour | Spinal alignment was assessed in the sagittal and frontal planes during neutral standing, maximal trunk flexion, and maximal trunk extension. All spinal alignment parameters were recorded as angular values and expressed in degrees (°). |
| Spinal mobility | 1 hour | Spinal mobility was assessed in both the sagittal and frontal planes. In the sagittal plane, mobility was calculated as the angular difference between the neutral standing posture and maximal trunk flexion and extension positions. In the frontal plane, lateral flexion mobility was calculated as the angular difference between the neutral standing posture and maximal right and left lateral flexion positions. All measurements were recorded in degrees (°). |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Single-Leg Stance | 1 hour | Single-leg stance time was recorded in seconds, with shorter durations indicating poorer balance performance. |
| Time Up and Go | 1 hour | Dynamic balance was assessed using the Timed Up and Go test. Performance was recorded as the time required to complete the task (seconds), with longer times indicating poorer dynamic balance. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Outcome results
None listed