Struggling to Keep Up and Have a Good Life: A Qualitative Study of Living With Impaired Balance Control Due to Multiple Sclerosis

Objective: We aimed to explore and describe the experiences of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) living with impaired balance control and how balance impairment can be managed in everyday life.

Methods: A qualitative design was used. Data were collected through semistructured interviews. Transcripts were analyzed using qualitative inductive content analysis. Sixteen participants (12 women) with MS and variation in level of balance control were interviewed. Age ranged between 35 and 64 years, and overall MS-disability ranged between 2.0 (mild) and 5.5 (moderate) according to the Expanded Disability Status Scale.

Results: Five main categories emerged: Balance is an automatic skill that now requires attention; contributors to balance impairment; burdens of balance impairment; management of balance impairment; and negotiation between capacity and ambition for continuing the good life. Body functions emphasized as central to keeping balance were somatosensory-motor functions, vision, and management of fatigue. Day-to-day variation in capacity and being in stimuli-rich environments were conditions highlighted as impacting balance. The main categories yielded the overarching theme of being restrained by impaired balance control and struggling to keep up.

Conclusion: Participants with MS described balance impairment as balance no longer being an automatic skill and having an adverse impact on everyday life. A strong effort was shown to not let shortcomings control and determine quality of life. To manage limitations and restrictions and to move forward in the struggle to keep up a good life, an extensive toolbox of strategies aiming to minimize the impact of balance impairment was used to maintain quality of life.

Impact: This study highlights the importance of person-centered health care in MS, with increased awareness of the individual perspective of how balance impairment is perceived. The person-centered focus increases both quality and efficiency in therapy since it involves the individual's thoughts of a life where participation in valued activities is less restricted.