http://dgnews.docguide.com/balance-exercises-may-help-people-multiple-sclerosis?
January 31, 2018
MINNEAPOLIS,
Minn -- January 31, 2018 -- A special program that involves balance and
eye movement exercises may help people with multiple sclerosis (MS)
with their balance problems and fatigue, according to a study published
in the January 31, 2018, online issue of Neurology.
“Most rehabilitation programs to improve balance have focused mainly on strength exercises and balance exercises that are not designed for the specific problems of people with MS,” said Jeffrey R. Hebert, PhD, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado. “We wanted to see if performing balance and eye movement exercises while processing multiple different sensory information could help people improve their balance and fatigue issues.”
The study involved 88 people with MS who were able to walk 100 meters with no more assistance than using a cane or other device on one side. The participants completed assessments of their balance, fatigue, dizziness, and other factors. Then half of the participants completed 6 weeks of supervised exercises twice a week plus instructions for exercising every day at home; for the next 8 weeks, they had 1 supervised exercise session each week, plus the daily exercises at home.
As a control group, the rest of the participants were told that they were on a waiting list for the program. All of the participants were tested after 6 weeks and again at the end of the program.
The exercises included balancing on different surfaces and while walking, both with and without head movements and eyes open and closed, as well as eye movement exercises to help improve visual stability.
After 6 weeks, the people who had completed the exercise program had improved in their balance compared with the control group. On a computer-based balance test where healthy adults with no balance issues reach a score of around 90 or better out of 100, the scores of those who completed the exercise program went from an average of 63 at the start of the program to an average of 73 at 6 weeks, compared with scores of 62 at the start to 66 at the end for the control group. The improvements were still evident at the end of the study.
The people who did the exercises also improved on the fatigue and dizziness tests compared with the control group.
Dr. Hebert said further studies are needed to determine if improvements can be sustained and to directly compare this exercise program to other balance training programs.
SOURCE: American Academy of Neurology
“Most rehabilitation programs to improve balance have focused mainly on strength exercises and balance exercises that are not designed for the specific problems of people with MS,” said Jeffrey R. Hebert, PhD, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado. “We wanted to see if performing balance and eye movement exercises while processing multiple different sensory information could help people improve their balance and fatigue issues.”
The study involved 88 people with MS who were able to walk 100 meters with no more assistance than using a cane or other device on one side. The participants completed assessments of their balance, fatigue, dizziness, and other factors. Then half of the participants completed 6 weeks of supervised exercises twice a week plus instructions for exercising every day at home; for the next 8 weeks, they had 1 supervised exercise session each week, plus the daily exercises at home.
As a control group, the rest of the participants were told that they were on a waiting list for the program. All of the participants were tested after 6 weeks and again at the end of the program.
The exercises included balancing on different surfaces and while walking, both with and without head movements and eyes open and closed, as well as eye movement exercises to help improve visual stability.
After 6 weeks, the people who had completed the exercise program had improved in their balance compared with the control group. On a computer-based balance test where healthy adults with no balance issues reach a score of around 90 or better out of 100, the scores of those who completed the exercise program went from an average of 63 at the start of the program to an average of 73 at 6 weeks, compared with scores of 62 at the start to 66 at the end for the control group. The improvements were still evident at the end of the study.
The people who did the exercises also improved on the fatigue and dizziness tests compared with the control group.
Dr. Hebert said further studies are needed to determine if improvements can be sustained and to directly compare this exercise program to other balance training programs.
SOURCE: American Academy of Neurology
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