Lower Endurance and Strength of Core Muscles in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system associated with a variety of symptoms and functional deficits. Balance impairment is a common concern in patients with MS. Core muscle stabilization is considered a main component of balance. The strength and endurance of core muscles have not been compared between patients with MS and healthy people. The objective of this study was to compare core muscle strength and endurance between ambulatory patients with MS and a healthy group. Methods: Thirty-three patients with MS with Expanded Disability Status Scale scores ranging from 1.0 to 4.5 and 33 matched healthy people participated in this cross-sectional group comparison study. The primary outcome measure was endurance of core muscles assessed by functional endurance tests, and the secondary outcome was isometric strength of core muscles assessed using a dynamometer. Results: Patients with MS had lower performance on endurance tests (P < .001) and strength tests (P < .05) compared with the control group. Conclusions: These results show decreased core muscle strength and endurance in ambulatory individuals with MS compared with a matched control group. Future studies are required to assess how core muscle impairment affects balance and how it would be affected by rehabilitation and exercise programs.

The effects of supervised versus home Pilates-based core stability training on lower extremity muscle strength and postural sway in people with multiple sclerosis

“…7 A decrease in core stability affects both trunk control and the quality of limb movements due to the kinetic chain in the body. There are a limited number of studies demonstrating reduced core stabilization in MS. 8,9 Some core endurance parameters are related to postural control and walking speed, and PwMS use compensatory mechanisms during walking to maintain balance due to the decrease in core activation. 8,10 These compensation strategies are predicted to increase the energy expenditure of the muscles and result in fatigue, one of the most common symptoms seen in MS.…”

Cervical spinal degenerative disease in multiple sclerosis

“…The predisposition of PwMS to develop SDD may be due to various factors. Reduced exercise tolerance, high BMI [25] and reduced core muscle strength [26] may lead to abnormal posture and loss of the normal spinal curvature [11], placing excessive or non‐physiological mechanical stresses on the spinal column. PwMS are usually low in vitamin D [27], which is essential for musculoskeletal health, and SDD is associated with low levels of this vitamin [28].…”

“…The predisposition of PwMS to develop SDD may be due to various factors. Reduced exercise tolerance, high BMI[25] and reduced core muscle strength[26] may lead to abnormal posture and loss of the normal spinal curvatureIn the ordinal regression with severity as dependent variable, the proportionality odds assumption was not met where an asterisk is present. Bold font indicates p < 0.05.Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio; SDD, spinal degenerative disease.…”

Investigation of the effects of trunk stabilization training combined with aerobic training on balance, lower limb muscle strength, and core stability in patients with Multiple Sclerosis: a randomized controlled study

“…Kor stabilite, ekstremite hareketleri ve diğer pertürbasyonlara karşı gövdeyi kontrol etme yeteneği olarak tanımlanır. [4][5] MS hastalarında sağlıklı bireylere göre kor kas kuvvet ve enduransının azaldığı gösterilmiştir. 5 MS hastalarında gövde kaslarının yanı sıra alt ekstremitelerdeki kas grupları da genellikle etkilenmektedir.…”

“…[4][5] MS hastalarında sağlıklı bireylere göre kor kas kuvvet ve enduransının azaldığı gösterilmiştir. 5 MS hastalarında gövde kaslarının yanı sıra alt ekstremitelerdeki kas grupları da genellikle etkilenmektedir. Bir sistematik derlemede, MS hastalarında alt ekstremite fleksör ve ekstansör kas gruplarının eksentrik ve konsantrik olmak üzere izokinetik kas kuvvetinin azaldığı ifade edilmiştir.…”