Abstract

Objective: to test de effectiveness of teaching a light protocol of exercise to diagnosed multiple sclerosis patients for perform daily at home by themselves. Material and method: randomized clinical trial. 29 patients with multiple sclerosis diagnosis were contacted. Those who comply the criteria were selected: at least one year since diagnosis, being able to understand and perform exercise learned, and EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale) between 2.0 and 6.5, remaining 25 participants (n = 25), valued by a blinded evaluator through the variables: Timed Up & Go (TUG), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), 30-S Chair Stand, Short version of Falls Efficacy Scale-International (Short FES-I), Modified Ashworth Scale, Unipedal Stance Test (UPST), Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29), Duncan Test and Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12). The sample was divided into two groups, control (GC, n = 13) and intervention (GI, n = 12), trained for 4 sessions to perform daily at home a 15 minutes protocol with strengthening exercises and motor control of the lower limbs during a two months period. Results: significate improvement were proved in variables TUG (p = 0.03), 30-S Chair Stand (p = 0.001), Short FES-I (p = 0.02), MSIS-29 (p = 0,001) and Duncan (p = 0,05). Conclusion: in multiple sclerosis patients, the incorporation of a daily strengthening exercises routine for the lower limbs during 2 months involves an improvement in their function, as well as a decreace in the fear of falling and in the disbility that the disease cuases in patients.