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Effects of backward walking training on balance, gait, and functional mobility in people with multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled study.

Multiple sclerosis and related disorders
November 1, 2023
Fatih Soke et al. (8 authors)
Randomized Controlled TrialJournal ArticleHuman StudyClinical
Study Details

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

Extracted Claims (11)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
HumansPostural BalanceTime and Motion StudiesGaitWalkingMultiple Sclerosis
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy80/10
Quality70/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations4
Citations/Year2.0
Relative Citation Ratio1.76
NIH Percentile70.6%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.50
Weight Score2.44
Normalized Score0.66
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