Core Stability, Trunk Position Sense, Balance and Functional Mobility in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

The aim of this study is to compare balance, functional mobility, core stability and trunk position sense in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) and healthy controls and investigate the relationship between core stability and trunk position sense with balance and functional mobility in PwMS. Balance and mobility disorders are seen in various degrees in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). Balance and mobility impairments are observed in the beginning with the early period and are one of the most common causes of disability in PwMS. Coordination between the peripheral sensory system, the central sensory-motor system and the musculoskeletal system which generates motor responses is required to provide balance. If one or more of these systems do not function properly, this results in deficiency in trunk stability and also causes balance and mobility disorders. It has been shown that balance and mobility disorders are mostly associated with loss of strength, spasticity, coordination disorders and sensory loss. Especially, it is known that strength of core are related to balance and mobility. Although core muscle strength is a significant element of trunk stability, position sense is also responsible for trunk stability. When literature is examined, there is no study which examines the relationship between balance and mobility with core muscles' strength and trunk position sense in PwMS. For all these reasons, we think that balance and functional mobility may be related to core stability and trunk position sense in PwMS