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  Background & Aim: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of central neurologic system that has a wide effect on neurological function and can cause disability or poor quality of life in patients. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the Tai Chi Chuan on quality of life in women with the MS .

  Methods & Materials : This was a clinical trial which covered 34 women with MS in Iran Multiple Sclerosis Society in 2012. The participants were selected using purposive sampling and were randomly assigned to the experiment (n=16) and control (n=18) groups. Intervention was Tai Chi Chuan classes twice a week for 12 weeks. In this study, demographic questionnaire and Multiple Sclerosis quality of life questionnaire (MSQOL-54 scale) were used to collect data . Data were analyzed using the Chi-squared, independent samples T-test, paired samples T-test, Mann-Whitney U and Wilcoxon in the SPSS v.18.

  Results: There were no significant differences between the mean quality of life and its subscales among patients in the experiment and control groups at baseline except for the emotional well-being subscale. After the Tai Chi training intervention, significant differences were found between the two groups in the mean of some subscales of the quality of life including role limitation due to emotional problems, pain, emotional well-being, energy, social function, health distress, overall quality of life, physical health composite score, mental health composite score and also total quality of life score (P<0.05).

  Conclusion : The results suggested that Tai Chi Chuan could be an alternative exercise intervention to increase quality of life in patient with the MS.

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  Background & Aim: Patients with multiple sclerosis suffer from permanent pain. It is being increased to apply relaxation therapy to decrease patients' pain. The progressive muscle relaxation make the muscles feel more relaxed. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of progressive muscle relaxation on pain among patients with multiple sclerosis .

  Methods & Materials: A randomized controlled trial was carried out among 70 patients with multiple sclerosis selected from Hamadan Multiple Sclerosis Society patients. Inclusion criteria involved diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, 20-65 year old patients, having ability to do daily 20-minute exercises, feeling pain, having an EDSS score equal or less than 4.5. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of control and intervention. Patients' pain was measured using the VAS scale in the two groups at baseline. The relaxation training was implemented among intervention group patients and was repeated three times a week for four weeks. Each session lasted 40 minutes and the patients continued doing exercise at home for the other eight weeks. The control group patients were observed routinely. Patients' pain was measured eight weeks later in both groups. Data were analyzed using the paired independent t-test in the SPSS-16 .

  Results: Muscle relaxation had significant effect on pain among patients with multiple sclerosis (P<0.05). The mean of pain severity decreased from 4.60 ± 1.75 to 3.26±1.88 in the intervention group after the intervention. The mean of pain severity remained constant .

  Conclusion: This progressive muscle relaxation can be used for decreasing pain among patients with multiple sclerosis as a non-expensive, safe and simple method .

  

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Background & Aim: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disorder that is frequently observed in patients with multiple sclerosis. This study aimed to determine the effect of stretching exercises on the severity of restless legs syndrome symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Methods & Materials: This quasi-experimental study with control group (IRCT2016041627427N1) was conducted on 60 patients with multiple sclerosis (30 in the intervention group and 30 in the control group) referred to the multiple sclerosis society of Kermanshah in 2015. “The demographic questionnaire”, “the symptoms of restless legs syndrome and their severity”, and “exercise recording form” were used to collect the data. The intervention group was taught the correct way to exercise during four half-hour sessions. The severity of RLS symptoms was measured before the intervention and the end of the fourth and eighth weeks. Data were analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS software version 20.

Results: Before the intervention, the mean score for the severity of RLS symptoms was respectively 19.08±8.12 and 17.42±5.24 in the intervention and control groups (P=0.569). One month (P=0.002) and two months after the intervention (P<0.001), the score was changed to 9.70±5.24 and 7.08±4.08 in the intervention group and 17.61±5.31 and 17.92±5.52 in the control group.

Conclusion: Stretching exercises can improve the severity of RLS symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis. Therefore, the stretching exercises program is recommended for this group of patients.

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Background & Aim: Health promoting behaviors have been recognized as an important strategy for maintaining and improving the independence, health and quality of life of people with chronic diseases. The aim of the present study was to compare the health promoting behaviors of patients with MS with those of healthy people.
Methods & Materials: This cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted on MS patients and healthy people in Guilan province in 2018. For this purpose, 120 MS patients (from the MS association of Guilan province and other health centers) and 120 healthy people were selected by the convenience sampling method. The Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II) was used to collect the data. The data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 22.
Results: The results showed that health promoting behaviors of MS patients were significantly lower than those of healthy people (t=-3.127, df=238, P<0.001). The results of the components analysis indicated that the mean ranks of self-actualization (U=4948.500, Z=-4.191, P<0.001), interpersonal relationships (U=12874.000, Z=-2.957, P<0.003), stress management (U=5787.000, Z=-2.644, P<0.008) and physical activity (U=5506.500, Z=-3.156, P<0.002) in MS patients were significantly lower than those in healthy people. However, there was no significant difference between MS patients and healthy people in the components of health responsibility and nutrition.
Conclusion: In general, it can be concluded that chronic conditions are associated with a decrease in health promoting behaviors in MS patients, and the patients should be educated in this area using appropriate nursing and psychological interventions.
 

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Background & Aim: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common autoimmune disorder of the central nervous system that can adversely affect patients’ sexual lives. This study aimed to compare the effects of counseling based on Leventhal’s self-regulation model and the BETTER model on sexual function and satisfaction in women with MS.
Methods & Materials: This randomized controlled trial with three parallel groups was conducted from April to September 2024 at the Neurology Clinic of Bu Ali Hospital in Qazvin, Iran. A convenience sample of 100 women with MS were randomly assigned to the study groups using a balanced block randomization method with a block size of six. Participants in the intervention groups received three weekly counseling sessions. The control group received educational materials on sexual health after study completion. Data were collected at baseline, and at one and three months post-intervention using the demographic questionnaire, the Female Sexual Satisfaction Scale, and the short form of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Data were analyzed with repeated-measures ANOVA using SPSS version 26.
Results: There were no significant differences in demographic or clinical characteristics between the groups at baseline (P>0.05). The analysis showed significant effects of time and group, as well as a significant time-by-group interaction for sexual satisfaction and function (P<0.05). Both the BETTER-model and Leventhal-based interventions produced significant improvements in mean scores on sexual satisfaction and function compared to the control group (P<0.05). However, no statistically significant difference was found between the BETTER and Leventhal interventions in improving sexual satisfaction and function (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Counseling grounded in either the BETTER model or Leventhal’s self-regulation model appears to be effective for enhancing sexual satisfaction and function in women with MS.
Clinical trial registry: IRCT20221120056555N1