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Balance, Trunk Impairment and Fear of Falling in Multiple Sclerosis Patients With Incontinence

Completed
Conditions
Incontinence
Multiple Sclerosis
Physical Therapy
Interventions
Other: Incontinence Severity
Other: Balance
Other: Trunk impairment
Other: Fear of falling
Registration Number
NCT03945006
Lead Sponsor
Ankara Yildirim Beyazıt University
Brief Summary

The aim of the present study was to examine balance, trunk impairment, and fear of falling in MS patients with incontinence. Clinical symptoms of the MS patients are heterogenous, and they vary according to the lesion levels and the duration and the type of the disease. In the neurologic group,especially in MS patients, incontinence is observed even at early stages.

Pelvic floor muscles contribute to continence by stabilizing the bladder neck and increasing the intraurethral pressure. Furthermore, they mechanically support the spine and the pelvis.This mechanical support is attained through an increase in sacroiliac joint stiffness and intra-abdominal pressure changes, which are important for spinal control. Along with incontinence, this mechanical support deteriorates resulting in some problems. By this way, postural function of pelvic floor muscles may alter in individuals with incontinence, and thus, lumbopelvic stabilization may be negatively affected. In addition, the activity of trunk muscles changes in individuals with incontinence, which may result in spinal movement and affect the posture. Therefore, balance disorders may develop. Postural sways caused by balance disorders and the decrease in postural corrections have been listed among risk the factors associated with falling.

When literature is examined, there exists no study examining the effects of incontinence on balance, trunk impairment, and fear of falling in MS patients. For all these reasons, investigators think that incontinence in MS patients has an effect on balance, trunk impairment, and fear of fall.

Detailed Description

This study was aimed to investigate balance, trunk impairment, and fear of falling in MS patients with and without incontinence.

The study was conducted in 35 MS patients with an age range of 24-58 years. The patients were divided into two groups based on the occurrence of incontinence. A neurologic examination was performed using the EDSS by a neurologist.

Incontinence was measured with the Incontinence Severity Index (ISI), balance was measured with a Technobody® stabilometric platform, and fear of falling was measured with the Falls Efficacy Scale (FES).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
36
Inclusion Criteria
  • Clinical diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis Disease
  • The level of disability should be between 0.5-4 according to EDSS
  • having a score of 24 or more in the Mini Mental Status Test
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients with acute attacks (six months prior to the study)
  • Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of less tahn 25 points
  • History of shoulder injury, surgery, medical problems or other neurological disorders in any of the participants

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Multiple Sclerosis Patients with IncontinenceIncontinence SeverityMultiple Sclerosis with incontinence 24-58 years of age and being volunteered.
Multiple Sclerosis Patients without incontinenceFear of fallingMultiple Sclerosis without incontinence 24-58 years of age and being volunteered.
Multiple Sclerosis Patients with IncontinenceTrunk impairmentMultiple Sclerosis with incontinence 24-58 years of age and being volunteered.
Multiple Sclerosis Patients with IncontinenceFear of fallingMultiple Sclerosis with incontinence 24-58 years of age and being volunteered.
Multiple Sclerosis Patients without incontinenceTrunk impairmentMultiple Sclerosis without incontinence 24-58 years of age and being volunteered.
Multiple Sclerosis Patients with IncontinenceBalanceMultiple Sclerosis with incontinence 24-58 years of age and being volunteered.
Multiple Sclerosis Patients without incontinenceIncontinence SeverityMultiple Sclerosis without incontinence 24-58 years of age and being volunteered.
Multiple Sclerosis Patients without incontinenceBalanceMultiple Sclerosis without incontinence 24-58 years of age and being volunteered.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Assessment of the Severity of Incontinence3 week

The Incontinence Severity Index (ISI) was used to assess the MS patients' incontinence severity. The first item is scored between 1 and 4 and the second item is scored between 1 and 3. The total score is calculated by the multiplication of these two answers. The index score is classified as 1-2 slight, 3-6 moderate, 8-9 severe, and 12 very severe.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Trunk Impairment Assesment3 week

Trunk impairment was assessed with the Trunk Impairment Scale. The scale evaluates static and dynamic sitting balance and trunk coordination through 17 items. Each item is scored between 0 and 3. The total score ranges between 0 and 23, and higher scores indicate a better balance performance.

Static Balance Assessment3 week

The static balance of the patients was measured with a Technobody® stabilometric platform. The test was performed as the patients' arms on the sides, eyes open and closed, and on two feet. Ellipse area, anterior-posterior sway, and medial-lateral sway scores were recorded. As the sway increases, the balance disorder increases.

Fear of Falling3 week

Fear of falling was assessed using the Falls Efficacy Scale. The scale has 10 items assessing the effect of fear of falling on the confidence level of the individuals while performing activities of daily living. Each items is scored by the participants between 0 (not at all concerned) and 10 (very concerned), and the total of the score ranges between 0 (low fall efficacy) and 100 (high fall efficacy).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Faculty of Health Sciences,Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation

🇹🇷

Ankara, Esenboğa, Turkey

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