Relationship between specific cognitive components and balance and functional mobility in women with multiple sclerosis

This study aimed to the relationship between specific cognitive components and balance and functional mobility in women with multiple sclerosis.

The research methodology was descriptive correlational method, and it was practical in terms of objective. 62 women with relapsing and flexible MS were selected using available sampling procedure of the study. To measure the cognitive components including TMT test was used to measure executive performance; auditory/verbal memory was measured using CVLT-II test and in order to assess motor functions including balance, walking speed, and functional mobility Berg Balance Scale, Timed Foot 25-Walk, and Up and Go tests were used, respectively. Falls Efficacy Scale International, to measure the fear of the risk of falling, was used.

Correlation coefficient results showed that there is a meaningful relationship between auditory/verbal memory with balance (r=0.669) , functional mobility (r=0.771), fear of falling risk (r=0.602) and walking speed (r=0.778) and between executive performance balance (r=0.795), functional mobility (r=0.820), fear of falling risk (r=0.791)  and walking speed (r=0.778), and with  the results from multiple regression analysis showed that a large percentage of changes in balance, functional mobility, and walking speed are predictable from cognitive components (P=0.001).

According to the results in present study, it seems that there is a significant relationship between cognitive components with balance, functional mobility, walking speed and fear of falling, and cognitive components can largely predict the motor function of patients with MS.