Review

EFFECT OF MIND-BODY EXERCISES ON FATIGUE, BALANCE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Volume: 4 Number: 1 January 31, 2026
TR EN

EFFECT OF MIND-BODY EXERCISES ON FATIGUE, BALANCE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Abstract

Purpose: Mind-body exercises (MBEs) such as Yoga and Pilates, which are increasingly used in the rehabilitation in people with MS (pwMS), are moderate aerobic exercises that include stretching and relaxation in skeletal muscle, physical coordination training, breathing, movement control, and attention regulation. This study aims to investigate the effects of MBEs on fatigue, balance, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pwMS. Methods: Pubmed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Ulakbim databases were searched. Search, selection, and data extraction from the studies were performed by two independent reviewers. The random effects model for meta-analysis, reporting effect sizes as Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) were used in this meta-analysis. Results: This meta-analysis included 19 randomized clinical trials with 791 participants in total. MBEs had similar effects on fatigue (SMD: 0.14, 95% CI=–0.07, 0.34, I2=0%) and balance (SMD: 0.51, 95% CI=0.00, 1.02, I2=73%) as physical exercise in pwMS. MBEs are more effective compared to no exercise for improving fatigue (SMD: 0.82, 95% CI = –1.23, –0.41, I2=71%) and balance (SMD: 1.36, 95% CI = 0.39, 2.32, I2=88%) but not physical (SMD: 0.04, 95% CI = –0.42, 0.34, I2=0%) or mental HRQoL (SMD: 0.04, 95% CI = –0.42, 0.34, I2=0%) in pwMS. Conclusion: This meta-analysis concluded that MBEs have similar benefits as physical exercises on fatigue and balance in pwMS and are more effective than no exercise. They do not appear to provide any additional benefits for HRQoL.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Physiotherapy, Rehabilitation

Journal Section

Review

Early Pub Date

January 31, 2026

Publication Date

January 31, 2026

Submission Date

December 10, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 30, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 4 Number: 1

APA
Kaya Uçar, G., Kaya Benli, T., Zeren, M., Yürekdeler Şahin, N., & Bakar, Y. (2026). EFFECT OF MIND-BODY EXERCISES ON FATIGUE, BALANCE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. Laodikya Rehabilitasyon Bilimleri, 4(1), 78-91. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18444824
AMA
1.Kaya Uçar G, Kaya Benli T, Zeren M, Yürekdeler Şahin N, Bakar Y. EFFECT OF MIND-BODY EXERCISES ON FATIGUE, BALANCE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. Laodikya Rehabilitasyon Bilimleri. 2026;4(1):78-91. doi:10.5281/zenodo.18444824
Chicago
Kaya Uçar, Gözde, Tuba Kaya Benli, Melih Zeren, Nilay Yürekdeler Şahin, and Yeşim Bakar. 2026. “EFFECT OF MIND-BODY EXERCISES ON FATIGUE, BALANCE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS”. Laodikya Rehabilitasyon Bilimleri 4 (1): 78-91. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18444824.
EndNote
Kaya Uçar G, Kaya Benli T, Zeren M, Yürekdeler Şahin N, Bakar Y (January 1, 2026) EFFECT OF MIND-BODY EXERCISES ON FATIGUE, BALANCE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. Laodikya Rehabilitasyon Bilimleri 4 1 78–91.
IEEE
[1]G. Kaya Uçar, T. Kaya Benli, M. Zeren, N. Yürekdeler Şahin, and Y. Bakar, “EFFECT OF MIND-BODY EXERCISES ON FATIGUE, BALANCE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS”, Laodikya Rehabilitasyon Bilimleri, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 78–91, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.18444824.
ISNAD
Kaya Uçar, Gözde - Kaya Benli, Tuba - Zeren, Melih - Yürekdeler Şahin, Nilay - Bakar, Yeşim. “EFFECT OF MIND-BODY EXERCISES ON FATIGUE, BALANCE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS”. Laodikya Rehabilitasyon Bilimleri 4/1 (January 1, 2026): 78-91. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18444824.
JAMA
1.Kaya Uçar G, Kaya Benli T, Zeren M, Yürekdeler Şahin N, Bakar Y. EFFECT OF MIND-BODY EXERCISES ON FATIGUE, BALANCE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. Laodikya Rehabilitasyon Bilimleri. 2026;4:78–91.
MLA
Kaya Uçar, Gözde, et al. “EFFECT OF MIND-BODY EXERCISES ON FATIGUE, BALANCE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS”. Laodikya Rehabilitasyon Bilimleri, vol. 4, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 78-91, doi:10.5281/zenodo.18444824.
Vancouver
1.Gözde Kaya Uçar, Tuba Kaya Benli, Melih Zeren, Nilay Yürekdeler Şahin, Yeşim Bakar. EFFECT OF MIND-BODY EXERCISES ON FATIGUE, BALANCE, AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS. Laodikya Rehabilitasyon Bilimleri. 2026 Jan. 1;4(1):78-91. doi:10.5281/zenodo.18444824