The effect of yoga and central stability exercises on the balance and posture of women with multiple sclerosis

Master of Physical Education (Pathology and Corrective Movements)

Abstract

Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is the most common progressive neurological disease in young adults. This disease destroys myelin in nerve axons and causes functional loss. One of the important areas involved in MS is the cerebellum. A problem in this structure causes a disturbance in balance and so on, which reduces the quality of life. Therefore, it seems necessary to use low-cost methods without side effects to solve this problem.

Materials and methods: In this semi-experimental research, 33 people (age: 25-45 years and EDSS=6-2) were selected from among women with multiple sclerosis who referred to the office of neurologists and neurologists, MS and Physiotherapy Association of Arak city. Control (9 people), yoga (12 people), central stability (12 people) were placed. The yoga training group performed the exercises for 8 weeks (3 sessions per week and each session lasted 60-70 minutes) and the central stability training group performed the exercises for 8 weeks (2 sessions per week and each session lasted 30-40 minutes). In this research, before and after the completion of the treatment sessions, the Berg balance test and the German Dyers 4D Formetric device were used to evaluate the balance and the abnormality of the stature, respectively. Data analysis was done with the help of SPSS version 16 software using independent t and paired t tests and one-way analysis of variance at the 95% confidence level (p?0.05). Findings: There is a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test data of the balance of the yoga group (sig: 0.000) and the central stability (sig: 0.000)), but between the average of the pre-test and the post-test There is no significant difference in the yoga group height anomaly test (sig: 0/749) and central stability (sig: 0/821). ANOVA[1] showed that there is a significant difference between the average data of the balance post-test (sig=0.000) of the three groups, but there is no height abnormality (sig=0.761) in the post-test.

Conclusion: Continuous yoga and central stability exercises, assuming the patient's condition is stable, improved the balance of multiple sclerosis patients, and the effect of these two types of exercises on balance is the same.

keywords: multiple sclerosis, yoga, central stability, balance, alignment

1- Introduction

Movement is one of the characteristics of human life and has a motivation and root in his nature and a factor for his growth, health and vitality. Humans need to move, and in other words, they have to move. Prohibiting a person from moving not only causes growth to stop, but also causes depression and loss of enthusiasm in his life. Today, science has made significant progress in all aspects, and physical education and sports, which are considered a broad and advanced science, are not exempt from this rule. On the other hand, one of the most effective factors in the development and progress of sports science is a better understanding of the body and how it functions. Also, if physical activities are not performed on the correct basis and with scientific principles and standards, not only will it not be positive and useful, but it will endanger human life. In other words, by correct and principled strengthening of the musculoskeletal system, many ailments of the body can be prevented(1).

The spine is a multi-part structure[1] with high mobility, which is prone to be influenced by many reaction forces caused by different body positions, muscle contractions and external forces(2). The spine has four arches, including the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral arches, and these curvatures of the spine increase its resistance to vertical forces, including body weight.

If these curves are moved from their original position. Functional abnormalities are created in the spine (75). In addition to full range of motion, the spine requires sufficient stability during movements in different planes. The waist, pelvis area is very important as the central area [2] of the body. Because not only the anatomical position of the body's center of gravity is located in this area, but it also acts as a link between the upper and lower limbs (3). Nowadays, the exercises related to strengthening and increasing the stability of the central region have found many audiences and enthusiasts in various fields, and during the last several years, the number of users of this training method has increased.. Today, exercises related to strengthening and increasing the stability of the central region have found many audiences and enthusiasts in various fields, and over the past several years, the number of users of this training method has increased, so that it is used to achieve various goals, including improving sports performance, rehabilitation and healing injuries, improving health and movement fitness. Therefore, sports experts and trainers have focused their attention on the application of this type of exercises along with other training methods and considering the effects of these exercises in the field of pathology, rehabilitation and performance improvement (4). Yoga is an ancient discipline that increases body fitness, relieves muscle tension (by eliminating spasms), body coordination and balance, reduces movement restrictions, increases flexibility, endurance, control and reduces fatigue, increases heat tolerance, improves blood circulation and breathing, improves organ function (intestines and bladder) and reduces stress and makes you feel refreshed. Due to the fact that yoga has more than 70 types of benefits and advantages according to research, this discipline has gained special popularity, so that today the use of yoga has increased in Western and Eastern societies to treat many diseases. The body is a long structure that is balanced on a relatively small support surface and its center of gravity is located in a higher area, and this makes the physiological balance of the body a challenge (5).

Balance and alignment control is one of the important aspects of physical fitness that athletes benefit from to improve their sports performance, so that few sports can be named in which balance and alignment control do not play a role (6). In addition, balance and vertical control is one of the important parts of rehabilitation programs in sports injuries, which unfortunately is often neglected by coaches and athletes and delays the athlete's return to the sports fields. A comprehensive study on the concept of balance and vertical control, we will understand its wide concept and application, so that wherever the human body is discussed, the balance and vertical control takes on a more prominent role. The activities performed in the work environment and daily tasks such as walking, running and climbing the stairs, all require balance and control of the correct body position. The gravity (COG) [3] in the range of the support level (BOS) [4] describes optimally (7). Since postural stability disorders, spasm and muscle tone are one of the biggest problems for balance, movement and daily activities in MS patients [5] (8). And also, one of the important factors for falling in patients with MS is balance disorder(9). Balance and vertical control become doubly important in patients with multiple sclerosis. Considering the growth and spread of this disease and the increase in the number of people suffering from multiple sclerosis in the world (2.5 million people) and 40-60 thousand in Iran, and considering that women are more susceptible to MS (72% of women and 28% of men), the importance of diagnosing and preventing the problems of these patients to promote and improve the quality of independent life becomes more apparent. Therefore, investigating and identifying the effective factors in the changes in the control of posture and balance of people with MS, in order to increase the safety in performing daily physical and sports activities and prevent injuries caused by falling among this group of society, is one of the important and necessary issues. Sclerosis or MS is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) [6]. During this disease, the myelin sheath of nerve fibers is destroyed. Therefore, the conduction of electrical currents in the brain and spinal cord is disturbed and the symptoms of MS appear. Researchers recognize this disease as a chronic autoimmune, inflammatory, progressive, non-infectious and debilitating disease of young and active adults (10). As a result of this disease, numerous plaques and inflammatory conditions are created in the white tissues of the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. These white and hardened tissues are the separated myelin sheath that occurs in the brain, spinal cord and cerebellum and causes damage to the nervous system.