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Updated: Mar 26, 2026
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
Step-rate cut-points for physical activity intensity in patients with multiple sclerosis: The effect of disability
Stamatis Agiovlasitis1, Brian M Sandroff2, Robert W Motl3
1Department of Kinesiology, Mississippi State University, 240 McCarthy Gym, P.O. Box 6186, Mississippi State, MS 39762, US.
Background:
Evaluating the relationship between step-rate and rate of oxygen uptake (VO2) may allow for practical physical activity assessment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) of differing disability levels.
Aims:
To examine whether the VO2 to step-rate relationship during over-ground walking differs across varying disability levels among patients with MS and to develop step-rate thresholds for moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity.
Materials And Methods:
Adults with MS (N=58; age: 51 ± 9 years; 48 women) completed one over-ground walking trial at comfortable speed, one at 0.22 m · s(-1) slower, and one at 0.22 m · s(-1) faster. Each trial lasted 6 min. VO2 was measured with portable spirometry and steps with hand-tally. Disability status was classified as mild, moderate, or severe based on Expanded Disability Status Scale scores.
Results:
Multi-level regression indicated that step-rate, disability status, and height significantly predicted VO2 (p<0.05). Based on this model, we developed step-rate thresholds for activity intensity that vary by disability status and height. A separate regression without height allowed for development of step-rate thresholds that vary only by disability status.
Conclusion:
The VO2 during over-ground walking differs among ambulatory patients with MS based on disability level and height, yielding different step-rate thresholds for physical activity intensity.
