Effects of tactile stimulation on the sensory, motor and cognitive function in people with multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory neurodegenerative disease that causes demyelination in the brain and spinal cord. Repetitive sensory stimulation (RSS) can enhance sensory perception and motor function, improve inappropriate synaptic connections and adaptable malformations, and increase cognitive function. The purpose of this study was to specify the effect of RSS on the sensory, motor, and cognitive function in people with MS.

RSS was applied to 50 people with MS. In this study, the following tests were used: two-point discrimination, 9-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT), Box and Block Test (BBT), hand mental rotation (HMR), Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT). The tests were performed before and after the intervention.

The results of this study showed significant difference before and after the stimulation in intervention and control groups two-point discrimination threshold (both groups= 0.001), BBT score (both groups: P < 0.001) and 9-HPT score (both groups: P < 0.001), HMR ability (reaction time: both groups: P = 0.003; accuracy rate: intervention: P = 0.004, control: P < 0.001), PASAT score (intervention: P < 0.001, control: P = 0.012) and SDMT score (intervention: P = 0.008, control: P < 0.001), but there was no statistical difference observed between the two groups before and after the intervention in terms of the mentioned variables (P > 0.05).

The application of 30 min of RSS in the right index finger of people with MS could not improve the two-point discrimination threshold and the manual dexterity. In addition, this intervention did not improve cognitive function.