Current Exercise Approaches in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Uskudar University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Multiple Sclerosis

Treatments: Other: Cawthorne-Cooksey Exercises; Other: Mechanical Hippotherapy Exercises

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06005909

Uskudar62

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study was conducted to examine the effects of exercises performed with mechanical hippotherapy device and Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises on balance, dizziness, fatigue and quality of life in patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

Full description

The research is a quantitative study, and it is in the form of randomized controlled type research, one of the experimental research types. In order to provide a homogeneous distribution, the patients were divided into two different exercise groups using the double-blind method from the minimization method.

The sample of the study consisted of definitively diagnosed multiple sclerosis (MS) patients who volunteered to participate in the study. Patients who voluntarily agreed to participate in the study; While they were informed about the aims of the study, the duration of the study, the evaluation methods and the applications to be made, the informed consent form was signed by these patients and their consent was obtained. The study sample was divided into two groups by randomization method. The first group was given 35 minutes of traditional physical therapy program and 15 minutes of exercises with a mechanical hippotherapy device, while the second group was given 15 minutes of Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises in addition to the 35-minute traditional physical therapy program. Both exercise groups were given a 50-minute physical therapy program. Patients diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in the study; It was classified according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale Score. Tinetti Balance Rating Scale was used to assess balance. The Dizziness Disability Inventory was used to assess dizziness, the Fatigue Severity Scale and the Fatigue Impact Scale to assess fatigue, and the Ferrans & Powers Quality of Life Index MS Adaptation to assess quality of life.

Enrollment: 50 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 25 to 64 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Being cooperative and oriented,
• Being 25 - 64 years
• Having a definite diagnosis of MS,
• Being able to sit dependent/independently and stand supported/unsupported,
• Not having an attack in the last 1 month or not currently in the attack period,
• Volunteering to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Having another neurological disease or musculoskeletal system problems in addition to the diagnosis of MS,
• Being on cortisone treatment in the last 1 month or still ongoing,
• Having a mental, cardiovascular, pulmonary or orthopedic disease that will prevent exercise.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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50 participants in 2 patient groups

Cawthorne-Cooksey

Experimental group

Description:

These exercises, which are designed to reduce vertigo, stabilize the gaze and improve balance by stimulating or operating the vestibular system during daily activities, consist of a series of eye, head, trunk and balance movements that provoke vestibular symptoms and whose difficulty increases. The degree of difficulty of the exercises was increased with the improvement of the patient. Head and trunk movements while sitting, standing and walking were added to the exercises that initially started with simple eye-head movements in bed.

Treatment:

Other: Cawthorne-Cooksey Exercises

Mechanical Hippotherapy

Experimental group

Description:

Before being taken to the device, the patients were informed about the working principle of the device, the exercises to be performed on the device, and that the exercise would be terminated in case of a possible health problem. After being placed on the device, the patient was given time until the initial balance was achieved. When the patient felt ready, a 15-minute hippotherapy session was applied at the 5th level of the 20-stage speed level by the physiotherapist.

Treatment:

Other: Mechanical Hippotherapy Exercises