Effect of Sensory Integration Therapy on Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be attributed to a low health-related quality of life (QOL). MS patients commonly claim that role limitations and emotional issues have a significant negative impact on their QOL, comparable to physical symptoms or disability status.
Objectives: This study aimed to detect the impact of sensory integration therapy on the QOL in patients suffering from MS by the 36-item short-form QOL scale (SF-36).
Methods: Thirty-eight male and female patients diagnosed with relapsing–remitting MS were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups at random: the study group (SG) and the control group (CG). A conventional physical-therapy program was given for the CG, such as aerobic exercise, muscle stretching for both lower extremities and strengthening exercise for both lower extremities. Besides conventional physical-therapy programs, sensory integration therapy was performed by the patients in the SG. Each group had a 70-minute session, which took place twice a week for eight weeks.
The Outcome Measures: To evaluate the QOL items on the SF-36, an Arabic version of the validated short form dimension scale (SF-36) was utilized, which was divided into 8 domains. The SF-36 scale was used to assess each group before, and after 8 weeks of intervention, as well as after three-month follow-up.
Results: After treatment and throughout follow-up, the study and control groups did not differ statistically. However, when comparing the study group before and after treatment, a significant improvement was observed in all outcome measures (P < 0.001). From pre-treatment to follow-up, all domains except emotional well-being showed significant improvement (P < 0.01), whereas emotional well-being did not differ significant (P = 0.13). From post-treatment to follow-up, there was a significant decline in all domains (P < 0.01), though scores remained above pre-treatment levels. Within control group, there was a significant difference post-treatment in all domains compared with baseline (P < 0.001). From pre-treatment to follow-up, all domains showed significant improvement (P < 0.05), whereas energy/fatigue, emotional well-being, social functioning, and pain did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). From post-treatment to follow-up, there was a significant decline in all domains (P < 0.01).
Conclusion: Both rehabilitation programs were associated with significant improvements in SF-36 scores; however, adding sensory integration therapy did not produce a statistically significant improvement in QOL compared with conventional physiotherapy alone.