Influence of multiple sclerosis on dynamic gait stability

This study investigated timing and coordination during the swing phase of swing leg, body center of mass (CoM) and head during walking people with multiple sclerosis (MS; n = 19) and controls (n = 19). The MS group showed differences in swing phase timing at all speeds. At imposed but not preferred speeds, the MS group had less time to prepare for entry into the unstable equilibrium, as the CoM entered this phase of swing earlier. Time-to-contact coupling, quantifying the coordination between the CoM and the swing foot, was not different between groups. The projection of head motion on the ground occurred earlier after toeoff and was positioned closer to the body in the MS group, illustrating increased reliance on visual exproprioception in which vision of the body in relation to the surface of support is established. Finally, prospective control, linking head movements to the swing foot time-to-contact and next step landing area, was impaired in the MS group at higher gait speeds.

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Effects of Fatigue on Balance and Mobility in Subjects with Multiple Sclerosis: A Brief Report

ISRN Neurology ◽

10.5402/2012/316097 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-4 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Elisa Gervasoni ◽

Davide Cattaneo ◽

Angelo Montesano ◽

Johanna Jonsdottir

Keyword(s):

Multiple Sclerosis ◽

Berg Balance Scale ◽

Balance Performance ◽

Before And After ◽

Increase Risk ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Edss Score ◽

The Difference ◽

Dynamic Gait Index ◽

Dynamic Gait

Purpose. People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) tent to have increased levels of fatigue which can impact on their balance and increase risk of falls. However, the relationship between fatigue and balance is poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to assess if an experimentally induced fatigue had an immediate effect on balance. Methods. 37 inpatients with multiple sclerosis were recruited; the mean age (standard deviation) was 48.7 (9.6) years. The average onset of the pathology was 15.3 (9.8) years before the start of the study. The median (1°–3° quartile) Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score was 5.5 (4.5–6.0). Before and after a fatiguing treadmill, session, subjects were assessed with the Berg Balance Scale and Dynamic Gait Index. Results. After the treadmill, no statistically significant differences were found in balance before and after a treadmill session (monopodalic stance: before 5.3s (10.3) and after 7.7s (13.9); walk with horizontal head turns: before 11.6 (6.9) seconds and after 11.3 (7.7)). There was no correlation between the EDSS score and the difference in balance skills before and after treadmill. Conclusion. After treadmil PwMS were mentally and physically fatigued; however, their balance performance did not change, indicating no increase in risk of falling with fatigue.

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Effects of a Dual-Task Paradigm and Gait Velocity on Dynamic Gait Stability during Stair Descent

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10061979 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1979 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Qipeng Song ◽

Wei Sun ◽

Cui Zhang ◽

Min Mao ◽

Li Li

Keyword(s):

Dual Task ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Force Plate ◽

Gait Velocity ◽

Task Condition ◽

Dual Task Condition ◽

Gait Stability ◽

Single Task ◽

Dual Task Paradigm ◽

Dynamic Gait

Falls during stair negotiation have become one of the leading causes of accidental death. The effects of a concurrent cognitive or manual dual-task paradigm on dynamic gait stability remain uncertain. How much dynamic gait stability is influenced by gait velocity is also not clear. A total of 16 healthy young females descended a staircase under three different walking conditions: descend stairs only (single task), descend stairs while performing subtraction (cognitive dual-task), and descend stairs while carrying a glass of water (manual dual-task). An eight-camera Vicon motion analysis system and a Kistler force plate embedded into the third step of the staircase were used synchronously to collect kinematic and kinetic data. Gait velocity decreased and dynamic gait stability increased with both cognitive and manual dual-task conditions. The center of mass–center of pressure inclination angle increased with gait velocity but decreased with the manual dual-task condition compared to the single-task condition. Changes in gait velocity caused by the dual-task paradigm can partially explain the effects of dual-task dynamic gait stability. The influence of gait velocity should be considered in the assessment of dual-task effects.

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