NFLUÊNCIA DO EXERCÍCIO TERAPÊUTICO ASSOCIADO À DUPLA TAREFA NA QUALIDADE DE VIDA, NO EQUILÍBRIO E FUNÇÃO COGNITIVA E EXECUTIVA EM INDIVÍDUOS COM ESCLEROSE MÚLTIPLA

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune pathology of the central nervous system that compromises the myelin sheath. This degeneration leads to diverse neurological symptoms, including fatigue, weakness, visual, cognitive and balance impairments. The present study aimed to analyze the impact of a therapeutic exercise program combined with dual tasking on the cognition, balance and functionality of patients with MS. The sample consisted of eight individuals, 4 men and 4 women, with an average age of 50.6±15.2 years. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were carried out, involving stabilometry on the force platform, the Frontal Assessment Battery (BAF), Timed Get Up and Go test (TUG) and quality of life assessment (SF-36). Statistical analysis adopted descriptive and inferential approaches. The initial results of the TUG-Test indicated an average time of 12.72±4.40 seconds and, for the BAF, an average score of 16.50±4.00 points. After the intervention, an improvement was noted in the average BAF score (17.00±2.00 points), however, stabilometry did not show significant improvements in the conditions tested. The SF-36 data reflected the initial and final scores, being subjected to the Student's t test and, for "General Health Status", the Wilcoxon test, with a significance level of 5%. It is concluded that, although the intervention did not show statistically relevant improvements in certain variables, the stabilization of the disease and improvement in quality of life suggests a potential benefit of the proposed exercises. Future research with expanded samples and the inclusion of control groups for scientific robustness are suggested.