Comparison of sensory - motor and virtual reality interventions on indicators of gait, balance and quality of life of MS patients: a randomized trial

Introduction Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system, causing inflammation and damage to the myelin sheath, leading to balance and gait impairments. Sensory-motor (SN) and virtual reality (VR) interventions have shown promise in addressing these balance issues by engaging all three components of the balance control systems. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of SN and VR training on the functional status and quality of life of MS patients. Methods In this study, 36 MS patients receiving Rituximab therapy with an EDSS of 2 to 6 were randomly assigned to three groups: SN (n = 10), VR (n = 8) and a control group (n = 10). The SN and VR groups underwent 8 weeks of intervention, with 3 sessions per week, while the control group continued routine care. Assessments using Timed Up and Go (TUG), Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW), Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life 54 Instrument (MSQOL54), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were conducted at baseline and after eight weeks. Results Considerable progress was made in all major and secondary variables after SN and VR training in comparison to the baseline settings. Furthermore, compared to the control group, the experimental groups showed a statistically significant improvement in both the primary and secondary outcomes. There were no significant differences in other variables between the SN and VR groups in the comparison of the experimental groups, with the exception of the PSQI, which showed significant changes in favor of the SN group. Conclusions The VR with a head-mounted display (HMD) serves as a motivational training tool, while SN training is an affordable and accessible technique. Both interventions can positively impact the functional status of MS patients by improving balance and gait through their task-oriented, dual-task, and multisensory nature.