Educational Kinesiology Program's Effect on Cognition, Manual Dexterity and Bimanual Coordination in MS Patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic non-curative immune inflammatory demyelinating disease mainly affects the Central Nervous System. Cognitive deficits are common in MS and affect patients at all stages of the disease-including the early stage. There was a negative correlation between the employment of MS patients and their cognitive impairment assessed by information processing speed, memory, and executive function. Currently, the recommended treatments for cognitive dysfunction and depression in people with MS are cognitive retraining and cognitive behavioural therapy, respectively. Both of these approaches are time-consuming and are often unavailable away from major treatment centres. The common clinical signs of the disease include motor and sensory deficits, cerebellar symptoms, fatigue, and/or vision problems, which can impact manipulative dexterity in 76% of the population with MS. Often, patients also present bilateral impairments.Educational kinesiology program is the original 26 movements. The movements which are naturally done during the first years of life when learning coordinated the eyes, ears, hands and whole body are recalled by these activities. The principle behind Educational kinesiology program is that moving with intention leads to optimal learning. Educational kinesiology program has a beneficial effect on cognitive function and combines movement of the feet, hands in the optimization of left and right brain functions so as to improve cognitive function that were damaged or decrease.

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female aged from 18-50 years.
• Patients with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS).
• EDSS scores for (RRMS) is ranging from 2.5 to 5.5 with a pyramid function score less than 2.
• Gave their oral and written consent to participate in the training.
• Adequate vision and hearing for completion of the study protocol, as indicated by the ability to follow written and oral instructions during screening.
• Stable medical condition.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with communication problems.
• Patients with a history of previous neurologic diseases or disorders.
• Patients with other types of MS.
• In co-operative patients.
• Unhealed fracture, contracture, pressure sores that might interfere with training.
• Untreated psychiatric disorders or ongoing drug abuse.