Training with Non-dominant Limb: A Helpful Strategy for Motor Function and Dual-task Cost inMultiple Sclerosis Patients

Background: the use of the inter-limb transfer mechanism in the rehabilitation of multiple sclerosis(ms) patients is unclear. this study aimed to investigate the effect of non-dominant hand training on motor function and dual-task cost in ms patients. methods: 22 women with a mean age of 44.09 ± 7.26 years and the expanded disability status scale (edss) 3.83 ± 0.76 were randomly divided into control (n=11) and experimental (n=11) groups. nine hole peg test (nhpt), box and block test (bbt), anddual-task cost test (dtc) took as pre-tests from the participants. post-test was taken 24 hours after the last intervention session and the retention test one week later. results: the results showed that the motor function (nhpt and bbt) of the experimental group improved in both dominant and non-dominanthands (p≤0.05). however, a significant decrease was observed in both dominant and non-dominant hands in the control group for nhpt and bbt (p≤ 0.05). also, the experimental group had a lower dual-task cost than the control (p < 0.001) in the post-test. conclusion: according to the results, inter-limb transfer mechanisms can be used in the rehabilitation of ms patients in both motor and cognitive dimensions.