Effects of Square-Stepping Exercise on Mobility and Balance in Individuals with MS
In a study involving 40 participants with multiple sclerosis (MS), those who performed Square-Stepping Exercise (SSE) showed significant improvements in mobility and balance compared to those doing a home-based coordination exercise. Metrics like T25FW and FSST indicated large positive effects for SSE; however, no significant difference was seen in one measure (5STS).
- Tags
- #MSResearch
- Most relevant to
- —
- Human efficacy
- Not established from this source
- Mechanism
- Not reported
- Evidence strength
- Not graded
- Outcome
- Not reported
Why it matters
Improving mobility and balance in individuals with MS can enhance daily functioning and quality of life, highlighting the potential of task-oriented exercises like SSE.
What this does not prove
The study had no long-term follow-up data and was limited to individuals aged 20-50 years.
Next milestone
No next milestone was established from the available source.
Study facts
- Study design
- Not reported
- Participants / samples
- Not reported
- Randomised
- Not reported
- Controlled
- Not reported
- Primary endpoint met
- Not reported
- Relevant MS type
- Not reported
- Publication date
- 2026-10-29
- Evidence reviewed
- Abstract only
- Regulatory approval
- Not reported
- Research areas
- Not classified
- Biological target
- Not reported
- Pathway
- Not reported
- Population
- Individuals with MS, aged 20-50 years
- Size of effect
- Hedges' g = -1.17 to -2.27 for mobility and balance outcomes; g = -0.45 to -0.80 for knee JPS outcomes
- Secondary endpoints
- Not reported
- MRI endpoints
- Not reported
- Biomarkers
- Not reported
- Safety
- Not reported
Original sources
- Primary evidenceEffect of square-stepping exercises on mobility, balance and knee joint position sense in individuals with multiple sclerosis. ↗DOI: 10.1080/09593985.2026.2727934
Supporting passages (10)
publication date2026-10-29
interventionSquare-Stepping Exercise (SSE)
comparatorMETHODS: Forty individuals with MS, aged 20-50 years, were randomly allocated (1:1) to either the SSE group (n = 20) or the home-based Frenkel Coordination Exercise (FCE) group (control; n = 20).
primary endpointOBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Square-Stepping Exercise (SSE), a task-oriented sensorimotor stepping intervention, on mobility, balance, and knee joint position sense (JPS) in people with MS.
populationMETHODS: Forty individuals with MS, aged 20-50 years, were randomly allocated (1:1) to either the SSE group (n = 20) or the home-based Frenkel Coordination Exercise (FCE) group (control; n = 20).
effect sizeCONCLUSION: The SSE intervention was associated with favorable changes in mobility, balance, and knee JPS outcomes in individuals with MS.
findingsRESULTS: Baseline-adjusted analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed significant between-group differences favoring SSE, with large effect sizes, for T25FW (p < .001; Hedges' g = -1.17), FSST (p < .001; g = -2.27), and ABC (p < .001; g = 1.23). Significant between-group differences favoring SSE were also observed for all knee JPS outcomes, with effect sizes ranging from small to large (p = .004-0.024; g = -0.45 to -0.80). No adjusted between-group difference was found for 5STS (p = .451; g = 0.22, small effect).
limitationsTitle: Effect of square-stepping exercises on mobility, balance and knee joint position sense in individuals with multiple sclerosis.
peer reviewedPublication types: Journal Article
subjectsTitle: Effect of square-stepping exercises on mobility, balance and knee joint position sense in individuals with multiple sclerosis.
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