Plantar Sensitivity Training and Aerobic Exercise Training in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis (PlaSTAcET Study)

The aim of this thesis study is to examine whether plantar sensory training given in addition to aerobic exercise training has an additional contribution to balance, functional capacity, walking and proprioception in patients with multiple sclerosis. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes damage to neural structures such as myelin sheath, oligodendrocytes, and axons in the central nervous system. In addition to motor, cognitive, cerebellar, visual and brain stem functions, sensory functions are also affected in patients with multiple sclerosis. Loss of deep and superficial senses, dysesthesia and paresthesias can be given as examples of these sensory dysfunctions. It is known that plantar cutaneous sensory information provides important clues in maintaining balance, and disturbances in sensory information for any reason cause postural oscillations. Therefore, it is thought that sensory dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis may be related to deficits in maintaining static and dynamic balance. There are limited studies on the positive effects of plantar sensory manipulations on balance in different patient populations. The decrease in aerobic capacity in patients with multiple sclerosis may affect parameters such as balance, walking, and sensory functions. Due to these effects, activity limitations, decreased walking distance, falls, and injuries related to falling may occur in patients. It has been shown that aerobic exercise training increases functional capacity in patients with multiple sclerosis and deep senses such as proprioception and vibration in different patient groups. In this direction, the aim of the thesis study is to examine whether plantar sensory training given in addition to aerobic exercise training has an additional contribution to balance, functional capacity, walking and proprioception in patients with multiple sclerosis. There is no study in the literature examining the effects of plantar sensory training and aerobic exercise training on balance, functional capacity, walking and proprioception in patients with multiple sclerosis.