title: Effects on Balance and Walking with the CoDuSe Balance Exercise Program in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: Background. Balance and walking impairments are frequent in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).Objective. The aim was to investigate the effects of a group-based balance exercise program targeting core stability, dual tasking, and sensory strategies (CoDuSe) on balance, postural sway, walking, perceived walking limitations, and balance confidence.Design. A single-blinded randomized multicenter trial. No intervention was given to controls.Participants. People with MS able to walk 100 meters but unable to maintain tandem stance ≥30 seconds. Eighty-seven participants were randomized to intervention or control.Intervention. The 60-minute CoDuSe group program, twice weekly for seven weeks, supervised by physical therapists.Measurements. Primary outcome was dynamic balance (Berg Balance Scale (BBS)). Secondary outcomes were postural sway, walking (Timed-Up and Go test; Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)), MS Walking Scale, and Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale. Assessments were performed before and after (week 8) the intervention.Results. 73 participants fulfilled the study. There were significant differences between the intervention and the control groups in change in the BBS and in the secondary measures: postural sway with eyes open, FGA, MS Walking Scale, and ABC scale in favor of the intervention.Conclusions. The seven-week CoDuSe program improved dynamic balance more than no intervention.
authors.affiliation: University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anette
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6768-5740
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forsberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: von Koch
authors.affiliation: University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ylva
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9760-3785
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nilsagård