Multipl Skleroz Hastalarında Vertikalite Algısının İncelenmesi ve Mental Rotasyon Yeteneği ile İlişkisinin Araştırılması

Abstract

In this study, which aims to examine the verticality perception in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients and to investigate its relationship with mental rotation ability, 57 MS patients between the ages of 18-54, who were diagnosed with MS by a neurologist, and 40 healthy individuals similar in age and gender participated. Verticality perception was evaluated with the bucket test by looking at subjective visual vertical (SVV). In this evaluation, the absolute value was determined as SVV clockwise, SVV counterclockwise, and the average of SVV in degrees regardless of direction. Mental rotation ability was evaluated with Recognise Hand App™, Recognise Foot App™, Recognise Neck App™ and Test of Ability in Movement Imagery. While the variables of Recognise mobile applications for hand, foot and neck were specified with reaction times (sec) and correct response percentages (%), the score of the Test of Ability in Movement Imagery was stated in points. While the cognitive levels of all participants were evaluated with the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS, which consists of separate assessment parameters for information processing speed, verbal memory, and visuospatial memory, posture assessment measurements of the head, neck and upper thoracic region were calculated with Kinovea software. 26.3% of MS patients had an abnormal SVV clockwise average, 66.7% had an abnormal SVV counterclockwise average, and 49.1% had an abnormal SVV average regardless of direction. MS patients had greater degrees of deviation in the SVV counterclockwise mean (p=0.002) and SVV mean (p=0.037) than healthy individuals. MS patients had lower performance in right hand reaction time (p=0.042), right hand correct response percentage (p<0.001), right foot correct response percentage (p=0.035) and Test of Ability in Movement Imagery (p<0.001). A negative, low-to-medium level relationship was found between SVV average deviation degree of MS patients and right hand correct response % (rho=-0.318 and p=0.016), left hand correct response % (rho=-0.381 and p=0.003), right foot correct response % (rho=-0.370 and p=0.005) and left foot correct response percentage (rho=-0.350 and p=0.008). In healthy individuals, no significant relationship was found between SVV variables and mental rotation ability variables (p>0,05). In MS patients, each parameter of the BICAMS Battery had low to moderate correlations with both SVV variables and mental rotation variables (p<0,05). There was no statistically significant relationship between posture variables and SVV variables (p>0,05). It was concluded that MS patients had lower performance in SVV and mental rotation ability than healthy individuals and that there was a relationship between both parameters. The relationship between these two parameters should be taken into account when planning evaluation and rehabilitation protocols in MS patients.