Neck Muscle Endurance, Trunk Control, Upper Extremity Function and Manual Dexterity in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

Purpose: One of the most impacted regions is upper limb function, which lowers quality of life and involvement in daily living activities in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). This study aimed to examine the relationship between function of upper extremity and manual dexterity with trunk control and neck muscle endurance in PwMS. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one PwMS and 30 healthy controls with matched ages and genders participated in the study.Trunk control was evaluated with Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS); neck muscle endurance with Extensor Endurance Test (EET) and Flexor Endurance Test (FET); upper extremity function and manual dexterity with 9-Hole Peg Test (9-HPT) bilaterally, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire, and Coin Rotation Test (CRT) bilaterally. Results: TIS, and EET scores was lower and dominant-nondominant 9-HPT, DASH Questionnaire, and dominant-non-dominant CRT scores was higher in PwMS compared to healthy controls (p0.05). In PwMS, FET was only related with DASH and EET was related DASH Questionarre, nondominant NHPT and CRT(r between -0.404 and -0.481; p