Background and Aim: Multiple sclerosis is a progressive degenerative disease of myelin in the central nervous system. One of the main complications of the disease is development of balance disorder. Since considerable attention is needed to the balance issue, this study aimed to compare the two methods of single and dual task balance training on balance in the women with multiple sclerosis.

Material and Methods: 20 women between 25 to 45 years of age participated in this study. They were members of the MS association of Khorasn Razavi province with disability scores of (1-4). The patients were randomly assigned to two equal groups (single and dual balance groups) and conducted balance exercises three sessions per week for 8 weeks. The dual training group performed a cognitive task in addition to the balance training exercises. Using the Biodex balance analyzer instrument, we evaluated the indices of patients’ balance.Using SPSS software, data analysis was performed by analysis of covariance.

Results: Covariate effects were significant for all three variables (p<0.01). The indices of overall and anterior - posterior balance were significantly different between the two groups (p<0.01, p<0.02). The mean values for the overall and anterior-posterior balance indices decreased in the dual training group, but no significant differences were found in the medial-lateral index (p<0.4).

Conclusions: According to the results of this study, dual training exercises were suitable methods to improve balance disorders in the women with MS.

Keywords: Multiple sclerosis, Balance, Dual Task.

Received: May 11, 2015      Accepted: Oct 19, 2015