Effect of a Period of Balance Training on Center of Pressure (COP) Fluctuations during Walking in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), difficulty in walking and postural control is observed after a while due to demyelination. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of balance training on center of pressure (COP) fluctuations during walking in individuals with MS disease.
In this quasi-experimental research, 30 women with MS were randomly divided into two groups of experimental and control. The experimental group participated in balance training for 8 weeks (3 sessions per week). To measure the amplitude and velocity of COP fluctuations, force plate device was used (before and after of the balance trainings). Statistical analysis was performed using parametric dependent and independent t-tests. The significance level was set at p Balance trainings had a significant impact on the reduction of the velocity of COP fluctuations in the anterior-posterior direction (p=0.04), but these training had no significant effect on the amount of displacement in the anterior-posterior direction as well as the amplitude and velocity of COP fluctuations in the medial-lateral direction.
According to the findings of this study, balance training due to reduction of the COP fluctuations during walking in the anterior-posterior direction can positively affect the efficiency of anterior and posterior muscles of the leg as well as hip muscles to better control of movement. Therefore, it would be hoped that these trainings reduce falling of these individuals during everyday activities.