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Quantifying muscle fatigue during walking in people with multiple sclerosis
Maaike M Eken1, Rosie Richards2, Heleen Beckerman3
1Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, de Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa.
People with multiple sclerosis experience muscle fatigue in their lower legs during prolonged walking, indicated by changes in soleus and gastrocnemius muscle activity. This fatigue correlates with reduced walking speed and ankle power, impacting gait mechanics.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Kinesiology
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition affecting muscle function.
- Investigating muscle fatigue in MS is crucial for understanding gait impairments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine lower leg muscle fatigue in individuals with MS compared to healthy controls.
- To determine if muscle fatigue correlates with changes in gait parameters.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 8 individuals with MS and 10 healthy controls.
- 12-minute treadmill walking at self-paced speed.
- Surface electromyography (sEMG) to assess muscle fatigue (median frequency, root mean square) and inverse dynamics for gait analysis (walking speed, ankle power).
Main Results:
- Individuals with MS exhibited greater decreases in soleus median frequency and increases in soleus and gastrocnemius root mean square values, indicating significant muscle fatigue.
- People with MS had lower walking speed, ankle push-off power, and net ankle work compared to controls.
- These gait parameters improved in both groups during the walking trial.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary evidence suggests soleus muscle fatigue occurs during prolonged walking in individuals with MS.
- Changes in gastrocnemius muscle activity may be linked to fatigue, gait alterations, or a combination of factors in MS.
