THE EFFECTS OF TAI CHI IN INDIVIDUALS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, immune-mediated neurological disease characterized by inflammation, demyelination, and neurodegeneration within the central nervous system. Cognitive impairment, fatigue, and depression are among the most common and disabling symptoms in individuals with MS, significantly affecting their quality of life. In addition to pharmacological treatments, exercise-based rehabilitation approaches have gained increasing attention in recent years. This randomized controlled study investigated the effects of a structured Tai Chi exercise program on cognitive functions, fatigue, and depressive symptoms in individuals with MS. Participants diagnosed with MS were randomly allocated to either a Tai Chi intervention group or an active control group receiving a home-based Frenkel exercise program. Both groups continued their standard medical care throughout the study. The Tai Chi intervention was conducted over 8 weeks, with two supervised sessions per week. Each session lasted approximately 50 minutes and included warm-up exercises, Tai Chi practice, and cool-down activities. Cognitive functions were assessed using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS), which comprises three tests: the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), assessing information processing speed; the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II), assessing verbal learning and memory; and the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R), assessing visuospatial learning and memory. Fatigue was evaluated using the Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), while depressive symptoms were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The primary outcome was cognitive performance following the intervention, while secondary outcomes included changes in fatigue and depressive symptoms. All outcome measures were assessed at baseline and after the 8-week intervention period. This study aimed to contribute to the evidence regarding the potential role of Tai Chi as a non-pharmacological rehabilitation approach for managing cognitive and psychological symptoms in individuals with MS.