Sima Mohammadkhanbeigi - Department of Health and Sport Medicine, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Yousef Moghadas Tabrizi - Department of Health and Sport Medicine, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Seyed Massood Nabavi - Department of Regeneretive Biomedicine, Department of Brain and Cognitive Science Neurology and MS Group, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
Hooman Minoonejad - Department of Health and Sport Medicine, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.

Objectives: As a major feature of the disease, motor-related complications, including loss of balance and reduced ability to walk were seen in multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of core stability exercises and transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) as a non-invasive brain stimulation on balance, walking capacity, and quality of life in patients with MS. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study with a pretest-posttest design, ۲۹ female patients with an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) of less than ۴.۵ (۳.۷۵±۱.۳۱) and a mean age of ۳۸.۳۶±۷.۹۹ years were purposefully selected from patients referring to MS society of Tehran during ۲۰۲۱ and then randomly assigned to the following three groups: core stability exercises, anodal tDCS, and sham. Variables, such as balance, walking capacity, and quality of life were measured before and after the interventions. Subjects in the core stability training group participated in core stability exercises for three weeks, and subjects in both sham and anodal tDCS groups received direct brain electrical stimulation for five sessions. Results: A significant improvement in balance and walking capacity were seen both in the anodal tDCS and the core stability training groups (P<۰.۰۵). Moreover, mobility was significantly changed in the tDCS group (P<۰.۰۵). However, no significant difference in the quality of life was seen between the groups. Discussion: Our findings indicate comparable effects of tDCS, and core stability training on balance and walking capacity in patients with MS. Therefore, in addition to exercises, tDCS can be considered a promising tool for the neurorehabilitation of patients with MS.

Multiple sclerosis, Transcranial direct-current stimulation, Balance, Mobility, Core stability, Exercise