Efficacy of 12 weeks of proprioceptive training in patients with multiple sclerosis

This pilot study aims to investigate if specific training protocol can improve the quality of life in people with multiple sclerosis through the improvement of some impaired ability like the balance. We enrolled in our project 20 subjects (age: 34,88 +/- 4,45; height: 168,25 +/- 8,66 cm; weight: 72,31 +/- 17,28 kg) but only 5 completed the study. A proprioceptive training was administered for 12 weeks, 2 times a week, an hour for each session. At the beginning (T0) and at the end of the study (T1), static and dynamic balance parameters were tested. Statistical analyzes were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22.Changes in balance and strength between T0, T1 were evaluated using t Student test for paired data. Pearson linear correlation coefficient was used to investigate the correlations between all parameters analyzed. As regards static baropodometry, there was a statistic significant different between left forefoot load (T0 54,25 +/- 2,5 % and T1 59,5 +/- 1,73%; P<0,05) and left rearfoot load (T0 45,75 +/- 2,5% and T1 40,5 +/- 1,73%; P<0,05). In dynamic baropodometry we gave more attention to three parameters: left length gait line (T0 176 +/- 23,58 and T1 215 +/- 18,64 (mm); P<0,05), right surface (T0 106,75 +/- 14,97 and T1 149 +/- 11,58 (cm); P<0,05) and right pressure point (T0 1050 +/- 130,90 and T1 537,25 +/- 65,46 (gr/cm); P<0,05). In conclusion, it is possible to hypothesize that the application of proprioceptive treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis can improve gait stability and therefore the walking. However, further studies, with a greater number of subjects, are necessary to confirm this trend.