Eye and balance exercises may ease multiple sclerosis symptoms

REUTER HEALTH: People with multiple sclerosis who do balance and eye movement exercises may feel steadier on their feet and experience less fatigue and dizziness, a small trial suggests.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a rare, disabling autoimmune disease that damages the central nervous system. It can lead to fatigue, pain, vision loss and impaired coordination and motor skills.

For the current study, researchers focused on 88 adults with MS who were able to walk 100m assisted with a cane if necessary. Half of them were randomly selected to participate in a supervised exercise programme, while the rest were put on a waiting list.

At the start of the study, researchers gave all of the participants computer-based balance tests. None of the participants approached scores of 90 out of 100 that are typical for healthy adults without balance issues.

After six weeks, however, average scores rose more for the exercise group. While both groups started with scores around 62-63, those in the exercise group rose to an average of 73, compared with an increase to 66 in the other group.

“It is possible that disability due to MS can be improved or the accumulation of disability lessened by participation in exercise such as (this) programme; however, additional research in this area is needed,” said lead study author Jeffrey Hebert of the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver.

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