COMPARATIVE STUDY BETWEEN RESISTANCE TRAINING WITH MUSCLE STIMULATOR AND VESTIBULAR REHABILITATION FOR IMPROVING BALANCE IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic immune-mediated demyelinating disorderof the central nervous system characterized by impaired balance, gait dysfunction, muscleweakness, and an increased risk of falls. Physiotherapy interventions such as resistancetraining and vestibular rehabilitation are commonly employed to improve postural stabilityand functional mobility. However, evidence directly comparing resistance training combinedwith muscle stimulation and vestibular rehabilitation remains limited.Methodology& Results: A randomized controlled trial was conducted on individualsdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis who fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Participants wererandomly allocated into two intervention groups. Group A received progressive resistancetraining combined with NMES, while Group B underwent vestibular rehabilitation. Bothgroups received supervised treatment over the intervention period. Outcome measuresincluded the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Functional ReachTest (FRT), and Dynamic Gait Index (DGI). Assessments were performed before and aftercompletion of the intervention. Statistical analysis was conducted using appropriateparametric tests, with the level of significance set at p < 0.05.Results: Both interventions resulted in statistically significant improvements in balance andfunctional mobility. However, the resistance training combined with NMES groupdemonstrated greater improvements across the primary outcome measures compared with thevestibular rehabilitation group.Contribution of the Paper1. This randomized controlled trial directly compares resistance training combined withneuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and vestibular rehabilitation forimproving balance in individuals with multiple sclerosis.2. Both interventions significantly improved balance and functional mobility; resistancetraining combined with NMES demonstrated greater improvements in balance-related outcomes.3. The findings provide evidence to help physiotherapists select effective rehabilitationstrategies for improving postural stability and functional mobility in ambulatoryindividuals with multiple sclerosis.Conclusion: Both rehabilitation strategies were effective in improving balance in individualswith multiple sclerosis. Resistance training combined with NMES produced superiorimprovements in postural stability and functional mobility, suggesting that it may beconsidered a preferred intervention for balance rehabilitation in ambulatory individuals withmultiple sclerosis.