Optimizing motor learning in people with Multiple Sclerosis

Examine the impact of the optimized condition on motor learning in MS patients

According to baseline assessments (e.g., walking speed, balance, and, cognitive assessments), patients were randomized into either the optimized or control groups. Following this, all patients participated in the acquisition phase, comprising three blocks of four trials. The instructions for these three blocks were contingent upon the assigned patient group. For the optimal group, patients practiced under EE, AS, or EF conditions in a counterbalanced order

The sample of this research included 30 MS patients (male and female) with an age range of 30 to 50 years and a physical disability scale (EDSS) between 2 and 5, who were selected from the patients referred to the MS center in Isfahan. First, in a briefing session, the steps of the exercise program and the duration of its implementation were explained to the participants. Then, in an interview using the sports medicine information questionnaire, the researcher examined the medical records including the attending physician, the drugs used by the patient, and in general their clinical, health and physical activity conditions. The patients were aware that they were participating in a research project, but due to one-way blinding, none of them know about the goals of the researcher and the specific protocol.

1) clinically definitive diagnosis of MS, 2) age > 18, 3) Expanded Disability Status Scale: 2.0–5.0, 4) ability to walk without aid (e.g., cane), 5) Timed Twenty-Five-Foot Walk Test (T25-FW) > 5 seconds, 6) normal cognitive status or absence of dementia was determined through the Mini-Mental State Exam

optimal group Control group

Motor learning, Intrinsic Motivation, Mental effort, Movement-Specific Reinvestment, Positive Affect

A simple randomization method. For this purpose, the participants were listed alphabetically and each participant was assigned numbers one and two from this list. The unit of randomization was individual, and randomization was produced and applied using Excel software and the combination of two commands, SORTBY and ARRAYRAND. By applying this method, each participant will be randomly replaced in the control or optimal group, and the role of all related/unrelated variables in selecting participants in the two groups will be randomly neutralized.

Written informed consent document was obtained before participating in the experiment. They had not informed about the purpose of the study.