Comprehensive programs of physical rehabilitation of patients with multiple sclerosis

To conduct a comparative analysis of the effectiveness of increasing functional capabilities in patients with a confirmed diagnosis of multiple sclerosis and moderate spastic hemiparesis as a result of a course of specialized training using the «Neurac» method. Material and methods. The study involved 20 patients who were divided into two groups. The first group (main) — 10 patients who underwent exercises on the Redcord suspension system using the «Neurac» («Neuromuscular Activation») method against the background of a basic rehabilitation course (therapeutic gymnastics with an exercise therapy instructor, mechanotherapy on a cyclic simulator, medical massage); the second group (control) — 10 patients who underwent exercises according to the basic rehabilitation course. The duration of the rehabilitation course was 14 days. Efficiency was assessed using the Berg balance test, the Barthel index, a 10‑minute test and the average walking speed on a treadmill with BFB C-mill (km / h). Results and discussion. A comparative assessment of the obtained results revealed that in both groups, compared with the initial data (44.4±0.5 points in the first group and 43.6±0.8 points in the second group), there was an improvement in balance (Berg balance test) to 48±0.3 points and to 45.3±0.5 points, respectively (p≤0.05). When assessing the Barthel index, a significant improvement in the indicators of daily activity was revealed in patients of the main group — 86.9 ± 0.5 points with initial parameters of 80.1 ± 0.7 points, which is significantly higher than in the control group (p ≤ 0.05) and when assessing the 10‑minute test — 16.82 ± 5.4 points compared to 26.3 ± 5.01 points in the control group (p ≤ 0.05), with initial parameters of 22.6 ± 3.33 and 28.3 ± 3.51 points, respectively. When assessing walking on the treadmill with BFB C-mill, the average speed (km/h) upon completion of the course was 0.90±0.1 (main group) and 0.84±0.3 (control group) (p≤0.05), compared with the initial data of 0.80±0.2 and 0.84±0.3, respectively. Conclusion. The obtained data indicate the high efficiency of the «Neurac» method in the rehabilitation of patients with MS, contributing to the improvement of balance in statics and in movement (in particular in walking), acceleration of walking, increase in functional capabilities, as well as the patient’s level of independence in everyday life.