Trunk Restraint in Multiple Sclerosis

Primary outcomes

1. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)

   Time frame: up to 6 weeks

   EDSS was used to determine the patients' level of disability. EDSS is most commonly used to assess the level of disability in persons with MS. In this scale pyramidal, cerebral, cerebellar, brainstem, visual and sensory subparameters are evaluated it consists of ordinal rating system ranging from 0 (normal neurological status) to 10 (death due to MS) in 0.5 increments interval (when reaching EDSS 1). The lower scale values of the EDSS measureimpairments based on the neurological examination, while the upper range of the scale (> EDSS 6) measures handicaps of patients with MS. The determination of EDSS 4 - 6 is heavily dependent on aspects of walking ability.

2. Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS)

   Time frame: up to 6 weeks

   This scale used to evaluate the trunk control of the participants, TIS contains static sitting balance, dynamic sitting balance, and coordination. The total score of this scale is from 0 to 23 and a high score indicates better trunk control.

   The patients were placed in the standard sitting position for the test and the parameters were applied. Standart position is such that the knees are flexed at 90 degrees, without back support, with the hands and forearms on the thighs and the feet in contact with the ground.

3. Nine-Hole Peg Test (9HPT)

   Time frame: up to 6 weeks

   It is a short, standardized, quantitative test used to evaluate upper extremity function. In the test, patients are asked to pick up nine wooden pegs from a platform as quickly as possible and then place them back into the holes.In our study, the test was conducted twice for both the dominant and non-dominant hands, and the average completion time was recorded.