Balance Exercise for multiple sclerosis

INTERVENTION: Interactive stepping exercises on purpose‐built stepping mat connected to television. Participants will perform stepping in a random manner as indicated on the screen. Time to complete that task will be recorded (similar to a wii game). Data on exercises will be transmitted wirelessly to database for future analysis. Participants are requested to practice 30 minutes/day, 3 times/week for 12 weeks. CONDITION: Multiple sclerosis reduced balance PRIMARY OUTCOME: Choice stepping reaction time (CSRT): on a mat with 6 rectangles, 4 in lower row and 2 at front row, participants start by standing with the feet inside the middle 2 rectangles in lower row. Participants are instructed to step randomly to the right side or left side or to front with either left or right foot. Tester uses a standard list of instructions. Time to complete list is recorded. Co‐ordinated stability: Participants perform the coordinated stability test (2 attempts) barefoot trying to control a swaymeter strapped around the waist to trace a 'butterfly' shape. The number of corner and side errors are recorded from. The better attempt in the outcome measure is recorded. STROOP stepping test (Participants stand in the centre of the dance mat used for training and in the centre of a computer screen an arrow will be presented pointing in one of four directions (up, down, left, right). Inside the arrow is a written word in a high contrast colour indicating a different direction. Participants are instructed to step according to the word and by doing that to selectively attend to one stimulus and inhibit the response indicated by the arrow's shape) SECONDARY OUTCOME: 10‐meter Walk test number of falls during trial period INCLUSION CRITERIA: EDSS = 2‐7, stabilised MS, history of falls, no apparent cognitive problems