AN INVESTIGATION OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN LIMITS OF STABILITY AND RISK OF FALL IN INDIVIDUALS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Purpose: To investigate the association between Limits of Stability (LoS) and risk of fall in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Methods: Thirty patients with an age range of 18-50 years, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score <= 4, who did not have an attack in the last 6 months and had a history of falls in the last 6 months were included. Demographic information of the patients was recorded. Four-directional (anterior, posterior, lateral - left, right) LoS were measured with Bertec Balance Check ScreenerTM (Model BP5050; Bertec Corporation, Columbus, OH, USA). The risk of fall was measured with Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). Spearman correlation test was used to examine the association between four-directional LoS and TUG. Results: The mean age of 30 patients (18 Female, 12 Male) who participate in the study was 37.66 +/- 8.86 years. It was found that a good negative correlation (r=-0.616) between anterior-posterior LoS and TUG, a moderate negative correlation (r=-0.463) between left-right LoS and TUG (p<0.05). A good negative correlation (r=-0.683) was found between LoS Stability Score (LoSSS) and TUG (p<0.05). Conclusion: LoS is an important factor for falls in patients with MS. As the LoS, which are an important indicator of biomechanical competence and dynamic balance, decrease, the risk of falls increases in patients with MS. MS patients who experience falls should be evaluated in terms of LoS and the improvement of LoS should be included in the rehabilitation program.