Effectiveness of Different Exercise Approaches for Individuals with Chronic Low Back Pain Providing Primary Care to Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Aim: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) need help with personal care due to symptoms like weakness, stiffness, and fatigue. Chronic low back pain often affects primary caregivers of MS patients. Our study aims to assess exercise efficacy in caregivers with chronic low back pain caring for MS patients. Material and Method: Forty-one participants with low back pain for 12 weeks who were primary caregivers of MS patients were randomly divided into Pilates (n=20) and home exercise program (n=21). Visual Analogue Scale, Algometer, Oswestry Disability Index, Bakas Caregiver Outcome Scale, fingertip-to-floor test, 30-second sit-stand test and Beck Anxiety Inventory parameters were used on the participants. Assessments were conducted both prior to initiating treatment and following six weeks of exercise intervention. Results: As a result of the applied treatment program, for both groups in the evaluation results; pain tolerance(p=0.001), bakas score (p=0.00), functionality (p=0.00) and anxiety (p=0.00) were also found to be improved. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups when the groups were compared (p≥0.005). Conclusion: Pilates exercise and the McKenzie home exercise program were shown to improve patients' pain and pain tolerance, functioning and anxiety. Moreover, these results underscore the importance of considering the individual preferences and needs of caregivers with chronic low back pain when making clinical treatment plans.