Wrist Position Sense in Individuals With Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that occurs in young adults and usually progresses with attacks and remissions. As the disease progresses, symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, loss of balance, loss of sensation, spasticity, visual disturbances and bladder dysfunction are observed. In addition to these symptoms, hand functions may be affected even in the early stages of the disease.

Appropriate motor control and mobility skills are required to perform manual dexterity effectively. Joint stabilization and perception of the joint's position and movement in space are needed for motor control of hand functions. In this process, position sense signals contribute significantly to the target localization and performance of the hand. Position sense signals must be constantly updated for the coordination and integration of hand position during manual activities such as holding or grasping an object. This is possible with a healthy sense of position.

Although it is known that position sense is affected in MS patients, no study has been found examining the effect of wrist position sense on manual dexterity. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of wrist position sense on hand dexterity. Patients' manual dexterity will be evaluated using the Purdue Pegboard Test, and wrist position sense will be evaluated using the K-FORCE Sens® electrogoniometer.

Inclusion criteria

• Patient group:

• Disability score (EDSS: Expanded Disability Status Scale) should be between 0-3.
• Being between the ages of 18-50
• Not having had an attack in the last 3 months
• Scoring 24 points or above on the Mini-Mental State Examination
• Patients diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS with a disease duration of at least 2 years
• Patients without spasticity according to MAS

Control group:

• Volunteers in a similar age range who agreed to participate in the study
• Being between the ages of 18-50

Exclusion criteria

• Patient group:

• Presence of diagnosed visual impairment
• Having other chronic diseases not related to MS
• Having any orthopedic, neurological, rheumatological or metabolic diagnosis that causes upper extremity involvement
• History of hand and upper extremity disorders, peripheral nerve disorders, and medical or psychiatric disorders that may significantly affect cognitive function
• Presence of wrist joint range of motion limitation

Control group:

• Having any orthopedic, neurological, rheumatological or metabolic diagnosis that causes upper extremity involvement
• History of hand and upper extremity disorders, peripheral nerve disorders, and medical or psychiatric disorders that may significantly affect cognitive function
• Presence of wrist joint range of motion limitation