OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of dual-task training on static and dynamic balance in patients with multiple sclerosis. DATA SOURCES: PubMed/Medline, Embase, Scopus, and PEDro databases were searched from inception to March 1, 2021. METHODS: This study was conducted in agreement with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two reviewers assessed studies for inclusion and extracted data. We used the Physiotherapy Evidence Database scale to evaluate the methodological quality and the risk-of-bias. Randomized clinical trial data were pooled for the meta-analysis. The effect sizes and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated by random-effect models. Egger regression and Begg-Mazumdar rank correlation test were used for publication bias. RESULTS: A total of 13 studies involving 584 patients (42.3 +/- 9 years mean +/- SD; 377 females) met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review, while nine were included in the meta-analysis. People who received dual-task training interventions showed significant improvements in the Timed Up and Go test 0.44 (95% CI 0.22 to 0.65), p-value < 0.001), and in the Berg Balance scale 0.46 (95% CI 0.07 to 0.85), p-value = 0.02). Low and moderate heterogeneity between the studies was found for the Timed Up and Go test and the Berg Balance scale, respectively. CONCLUSION: The findings from the current meta-analysis support dual-task training as a beneficial therapy for improving dynamic balance and functional mobility in patients with multiple sclerosis. The limited number of studies that investigated static balance performance after dual-task training do not currently allow us to draw a conclusion about any possible improvements in this ability.

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