Effect of Dual-Task Training and Cognitive Rehabilitation in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis.

Effects of Dual-Task Training and Cognitive Rehabilitation on Gait, Balance, Fatigue and Cognitive Performance in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of dual-task training and cognitive rehabilitation on gait, balance, fatigue and cognitive performance in individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease characterized by chronic, inflammatory, demyelinating and neurodegenerative processes of the central nervous system (CNS) with heterogeneous clinical symptoms. Balance, gait and cognitive impairment are among the biggest problems in individuals with MS and significantly affect their daily lives.

Dual Task (DT); is the process of performing two tasks that can be performed independently and have different purposes simultaneously. Walking with dual tasks has recently been shown to resemble typical walking performance in daily life, thus providing clinicians with a realistic walking performance measurement in daily life. Although the effects of dual task performance in various neurological diseases have been partially described in the literature, the comparison of dual task training and cognitive rehabilitation on walking, balance, fatigue and cognitive performance has not been made and due to this deficiency in the literature, our study was planned and has originality. The aim of our study is to investigate the effects of dual task training and cognitive rehabilitation on walking, balance, fatigue and cognitive performance in individuals with MS.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Definite MS diagnosis by a neurologist
• Can walk independently
• Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score below 5
• Has not had an attack in the last 3 months, has been medically stable for 6 months
• Has not received a regular physiotherapy program in the last 6 months volunteer

Exclusion Criteria:

• Scoring 26 or below on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA)
• Having systemic, orthopedic and neurological problems that may affect walking and balance in the assessments
• Having additional psychiatric disorders