Effect of Resistance Training on Joint Position Sense and Disability in Adult Women with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic disease of the central nervous system that is caused by destruction of myelin of the neuronal cells.

This study aimed at determining the effect of resistance training on joint position sense in patients with multiple sclerosis.

This was a quasi-experimental study with the pretest-posttest design. Of 60 people referring to the National Multiple Sclerosis Association of Iran, 12 women aged 20-55 years were selected based on physical disability scale developed by Kurtzke (1-4) and their fitness for participation in a sports protocol. They were randomly assigned to two groups: resistance training and control. The experimental group performed resistance training for 6 weeks, while the control group did not have any physical activity during this period. A goniometer was used to evaluate the joint position sense.

The results of covariance analysis indicated a significant difference between the mean scores of two experimental and control groups joint position sense at an angle of 40 degrees (P<0.05). Resistance training at the starting knee flexion angle (40 degrees) led to progression of joint position sense, while it had no significant effect on the end angle (60 degrees). The effect of resistance training was also significant on physical disability (P=0.001). Six weeks of resistance training reduced reconstruction error of the 40-degree angle.

People with multiple sclerosis can improve the sensory aspect of movement, their physical ability, thereby the pattern and quality of their daily functional movements by these exercises. It is suggested that these exercises be used along with other rehabilitation programs to rehabilitate these patients.