THE EFFICACY OF INTEGRATING TAI CHI AND MINDFULNESS EXERCISES ON THE MS PATIENTS’ IMPROVED BALANCE, COORDINATION, AND PERFORMANCE

The balance and postural control impairments are current problems in people with multiple sclerosis, so much that the risk of fracture from falls in MS patients is 2 to 3-times higher than for a healthy control. The aim of the current study was to determine the effectiveness of integrated Tai Chi and mindfulness on balance, coordination of movement, fatigue, quality of life, disability with multiple sclerosis patient. In a Quasi-experimental research dynamic and static balance and coordination of movement of 30 people with MS was measured by the Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up and Go Test and Minnesota Rate of Manipulation Test Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test, MRMT/ MMDT. Also Fatigue Severity, quality of life, disability was assessed by Fatigue Severity Multiple Sclerosis quality of life questionnaire (MSQOL-54 scale) Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) before and after the training program and follow up, after 30 days. Data were analyzed by multivariate analysis of covariance, MANCOVA. The results indicated that integrated Tai Chi and mindfulness significantly improvements for static balance (P<0.001), dynamic balance (P<0.001), coordination of movement (P<0.001).also, significantly reduction fatigue severity (P<0.001) and improvements in quality of life (P<0.001) and disability (P<0.001) in patients with multiple sclerosis. Generally the results of this study indicate that can in treatment patients with multiple sclerosis of Tai Chi and mindfulness alongside current treatments for medical use. Because the physical and psychological benefits for patients. Also in these patients due to their multiple needs of comprehensive programs to be used. Key words: Thai Chi, Mindfulness, Balance, Coordination, Multiple Sclerosis Disease.