Effects of backward walking training on balance, gait, and functional mobility in people with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled study.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether backward walking training (BWT) improves balance, gait, and functional mobility in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) when added to conventional walking training (CWT).
Results Summary
The experimental group (BWT + CWT) showed significant improvements in balance, gait, and functional mobility compared to the control group (CWT alone), except for the timed 25-foot walk test. The study suggests BWT is a beneficial addition to MS rehabilitation, though the small sample size may limit generalizability.
Population
19 people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS), randomly allocated to experimental (n=10) and control (n=9) groups.
Effective Dosage
Training performed three times a week for 8 weeks.
Duration
8 weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Backward walking training (BWT) in addition to conventional walking training (CWT) | increase | Berg Balance Scale (BBS) | people with MS (PwMS) | - | showed significant improvements | #1 |
Backward walking training (BWT) in addition to conventional walking training (CWT) | increase | four square step test (FSST) | people with MS (PwMS) | - | showed significant improvements | #2 |
Backward walking training (BWT) in addition to conventional walking training (CWT) | increase | activities-specific balance confidence scale (ABC) | people with MS (PwMS) | - | showed significant improvements | #3 |
Backward walking training (BWT) in addition to conventional walking training (CWT) | increase | dynamic gait index (DGI) | people with MS (PwMS) | - | showed significant improvements | #4 |
Backward walking training (BWT) in addition to conventional walking training (CWT) | increase | 3-meter backward walk test (3MBWT) | people with MS (PwMS) | - | showed significant improvements | #5 |
Backward walking training (BWT) in addition to conventional walking training (CWT) | increase | Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12) | people with MS (PwMS) | - | showed significant improvements | #6 |
Backward walking training (BWT) in addition to conventional walking training (CWT) | increase | all outcomes | people with MS (PwMS) | - | significantly improved more than the control group | #7 |
Backward walking training (BWT) in addition to conventional walking training (CWT) | no change | timed 25-foot walk test (T25FW) | people with MS (PwMS) | - | did not significantly improve more than the control group | #8 |
conventional walking training (CWT) only | increase | timed 25-foot walk test (T25FW) | people with MS (PwMS) | - | showed significant improvements | #9 |
conventional walking training (CWT) only | increase | timed up and go test (TUG) | people with MS (PwMS) | - | showed significant improvements | #10 |
Backward walking training (BWT) in addition to conventional walking training (CWT) | increase | timed up and go test (TUG) | people with MS (PwMS) | - | showed significant improvements | #11 |
BACKGROUND: Backward walking training (BWT) can have a positive effect on balance, gait, and functional mobility in neurological diseases; however, the effectiveness of BWT has not been examined in multiple sclerosis (MS). Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the effects of BWT on balance, gait, and functional mobility in people with MS (PwMS). METHOD: Nineteen PwMS were randomly allocated to either the experimental group (n=10) and the control group (n=9). The experimental group received BWT in addition to conventional walking training (CWT) while the control group only received CWT. Both groups performed training three times a week for 8 weeks. Participants were assessed with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), four square step test (FSST), activities-specific balance confidence scale (ABC), timed 25-foot walk test (T25FW), dynamic gait index (DGI), 3-meter backward walk test (3MBWT), Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12), and timed up and go test (TUG) before and after training. RESULTS: After training, both groups showed significant improvements on the T25FW, and TUG (p<0.05) while only the experimental group showed significant improvements on the BBS, FSST, ABC, DGI, 3MBWT, and MSWS-12 (p<0.05). The experimental group significantly improved more than the control group in all outcomes (p<0.05) except for the T25FW (p=0.202). CONCLUSION: BWT in addition to CWT is an effective way to improve balance, gait, and functional mobility for PwMS. These results suggest that BWT may be a potentially useful treatment approach when added to CWT in the rehabilitation of MS.