Abstract
Purpose. This research aimed to investigate the effect of eight weeks of Pilates exercises on balance, muscle endurance, fatigue, and quality of life of women with MS.
Material and methods. In this research, which is of applied type and with a pre-test-post-test design with a control group, 40 women aged 25 to 50 with multiple sclerosis living in Alborz province were selected by random sampling. Sampling was done purposefully and available, and the samples were randomly divided into two experimental (20 people) and control (20 people) groups. The research exercise program was performed three days a week (one hour per session) and gradually increased from one hour to 90 minutes per session over 8 weeks. Fatigue was measured with the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), balance with the Berg Balance Test (BBS), general endurance with the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), the endurance of the core muscles of the body with the sit-up test, and quality of life with the Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life (MSQOL)-54 Instrument.
Results. In relation to the variables of balance and fatigue, the results of the analysis showed that Pilates exercises had a positive effect on the fatigue of the subjects in the experimental group and caused a significant reduction in their fatigue (P=0.000). Nevertheless, the data related to muscle endurance in the corezone (P=0.723) did not show a significant effect and regarding general endurance, it showed a significant effect (P=0.010). Also, in the variable of quality of life, the datashowed that Pilates exercises had a significant effect on both physical and mental dimensions of quality of life (P=0.000 and P=0.042).
Conclusion. Overall, the research findings indicate that Pilates exercises have a significant effect on the fatigue and balance of women with multiple sclerosis, but to ensure the effectiveness of these exercises on endurance and quality of life, more studies are needed.
Publisher
Independent publisher Zhanneta Kozina