Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 8, 2026
11:35
The Multiple Sclerosis Performance Test MSPT: An iPad-Based Disability Assessment Tool
Published on: June 30, 2014
58.8K
Cardiac autonomic function during postural changes and exercise in people with multiple sclerosis: A cross-sectional
Elisa Gervasoni1, Marco Bove2, Mattia Sinatra3
1Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus, IRCCS S. Maria Nascente, Milano, Italy; Università degli Studi di Genova, DINOGMI, Genova, Italy.
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
|July 9, 2018
Summary
Multiple sclerosis (MS) patients show impaired parasympathetic tone at rest and post-exercise, but autonomic dysfunction does not influence fatigue perception. Early assessment of autonomic dysfunction in MS is crucial.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- Autonomic Neuroscience
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently leads to autonomic dysfunction (AD), impacting treatment and exercise.
- Early detection of subclinical AD in MS is essential for managing patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess cardiac autonomic tone in people with MS (PwMS) without overt AD.
- To evaluate autonomic response during postural changes, exercise, and recovery.
- To investigate the relationship between autonomic tone and fatigue perception in PwMS.
Main Methods:
- Compared heart rate variability in 23 PwMS and 20 healthy controls (HC).
- Measured ECG during rest, sit-to-stand maneuvers, and exercise with recovery.
- Analyzed parasympathetic and sympatho-vagal parameters from heart rate variability.
Main Results:
- PwMS exhibited significantly lower parasympathetic indexes at rest and post-exercise compared to HC.
- Heart rate was not significantly different between PwMS and HC across conditions.
- No correlation was found between autonomic tone and perceived fatigue in PwMS.
Conclusions:
- Parasympathetic tone is impaired in PwMS during basal and recovery states, but not during postural challenges or exercise.
- Autonomic dysfunction does not appear to influence perceived fatigue in this MS cohort.
Related Concept Videos
01:50Cross-Sectional Research
12.7K
In cross-sectional research, a researcher compares multiple segments of the population at the same time. If they were interested in people's dietary habits, the researcher might directly compare different groups of people by age. Instead of following a group of people for 20 years to see how their dietary habits changed from decade to decade, the researcher would study a group of 20-year-old individuals and compare them to a group of 30-year-old individuals and a group of 40-year-old...
12.7K
01:17Exercise and Cardiac Output
2.0K
Regular physical activity is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, with aerobic exercises being particularly effective. According to the American Heart Association, 150 minutes of moderate to intense aerobic exercise per week is recommended for a healthy heart. Aerobic activities may include brisk walking, running, bicycling, cross-country skiing, and swimming, ideally performed three to five times per week.
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be...
2.0K
01:24Finding Volume Using Cross-Sectional Area
84
For solids whose cross-sectional areas vary in a predictable way, volume can be determined by integrating these areas along an axis perpendicular to the slices. This approach is particularly useful for polyhedral solids, where classical geometric formulas may not be immediately applicable. A tetrahedron provides a clear example of how cross-sectional integration can be applied to a three-dimensional object with continuously changing geometry.Consider a tetrahedron with height h and a base that...
84
01:26Profile Leveling and Cross Sections
1.7K
Profile leveling and cross-sections are surveying methods used to determine and document terrain elevations for infrastructure projects such as highways, railroads, canals, and pipelines. These methods provide data for earthwork planning and alignment of proposed routes. Profile leveling involves measuring elevations along a fixed line to create a vertical terrain profile. A surveyor sets up a leveling instrument at the benchmark (BM) and records a backsight (BS) to determine the...
1.7K
01:16Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy
4.9K
The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord offers a detailed view of its complex structure and function within the central nervous system. At the core of the spinal cord lies the gray matter, characterized by its butterfly or "H"-shaped appearance in cross-section. This central region is enveloped by white matter, with the overall structure divided into symmetrical halves by the dorsal median sulcus and the ventral median fissure.
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
4.9K
01:34Crossing Over
172.2K
Unlike mitosis, meiosis aims for genetic diversity in its creation of haploid gametes. Dividing germ cells first begin this process in prophase I, where each chromosome—replicated in S phase—is now composed of two sister chromatids (identical copies) joined centrally.
The homologous pairs of sister chromosomes—one from the maternal and one from the paternal genome—then begin to align alongside each other lengthwise, matching corresponding DNA positions in a process...
The homologous pairs of sister chromosomes—one from the maternal and one from the paternal genome—then begin to align alongside each other lengthwise, matching corresponding DNA positions in a process...
172.2K