The Effects of Trunk Stabilization and Aerobic Trainings in Multiple Sclerosis

Summary

Balance requires many central nervous system controlled functions, and most or all of these functions can be affected by MS, so balance is very often impaired in patients with MS. Core stability is also decreased in patients with MS. Core stability is among the most important factors that ensure the balance and walking of the participants in different environments and conditions during functional activities. In addition to core muscle activity, lower extremity muscle strength and endurance decrease due to the influence of central nervous system and decrease in physical activity. Functional exercise capacity also decreases due to the influence of the central nervous system and the decrease in physical activity in patients with MS.

Despite all these symptoms and the benefits of exercise training, unfortunately, most MS patients are physically inactive, which can initiate a cycle of deconditioning and worsening of symptoms. In the literature, the combined effects of aerobic training and resistance training have been examined, and it has been stated that combining these two trainings will increase the effectiveness on symptoms. In recent years, trunk stabilization training has started to be included in physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs as an alternative method in patients with MS, based on the knowledge that core stability is effective on many functions and symptoms, as well as aerobic and resistance training. Considering that combined training practices are more effective in reducing symptoms, the investigators think that aerobic training and trunk stabilization training may be more effective in reducing symptoms in patients with MS when applied in combination. In addition, when all these studies were examined, the subtypes of MS patients included in the studies were generally not specified. The effects of these trainings on balance, core stability lower extremity muscle strength and endurance, and functional exercise capacity have not been demonstrated in patients with relapsing remitting MS (RR-MS), the most common type of MS disease. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the effects of trunk stabilization training combined with aerobic training on balance, core stability, lower extremity muscle strength and endurance, and functional exercise capacity in patients with RR-MS.

Conditions

• Physical Therapy

Interventions

OTHER

Combined exercise training

Combined exercise group (CEG) performed 30 minutes of aerobic training and also received trunk stabilization training in about 30 minutes after a 10-minute resting period. CEG received treatment 2 times a week for 8 weeks. During trunk stabilization training, the participants were taught how to contract the transversus abdominis and multifidus muscles. Due to the progression protocol, endurance levels of trunk muscles were increased by holding each posture for longer periods. The training was started with theraband resistance, which could be repeated between 10-12 repetitions, and the repetition time was increased up to 20. Aerobic training (AT) was given using a treadmill. A heart rate monitor (Polar V800™, Finland) was used by each patient to follow heart rates during the AT. During AT, the target heart rate was calculated as 60-80% of maximum heart rates (MHR). Each exercise session consisted of a 5-minutes warm-up, 20 minutes of walking, and 5 minutes cool down on the treadmill.

OTHER

Aerobic training

Control group (CG) performed 30 minutes of aerobic training.CG received treatment 2 times a week for 8 weeks. Aerobic training (AT) was given using a treadmill. A heart rate monitor (Polar V800™, Finland) was used by each patient to follow their heart rates during the AT. During AT, the target heart rate was calculated as 60-80% of maximum heart rates (MHR). Each exercise session consisted of a 5-minutes warm-up, 20 minutes of walking, and 5 minutes cool down on the treadmill.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Taskin Ozkan, doctorate · Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

65 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-06-01

Primary Completion

2020-12-01

Completion

2021-02-01

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations