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Trunk and pelvis movement compensation in people with multiple sclerosis: Relationships to muscle function and gait
M M Mañago1, P W Kline2, E Alvarez3
1Physical Therapy Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop C244, 13121 E 17th Ave., Room 3108, Aurora, CO, 80045, United States; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop B182, Research Complex 2, 12700 East 19th Ave., Aurora, CO, 80045, United States.
Background:
Problems with gait are common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), but little is known about pelvis and trunk kinematics, especially in the frontal plane.
Research Question:
Are pelvis and trunk kinematics in people with MS related to muscle function, spatiotemporal parameters, and gait performance?
Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, 20 people with MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale 1.5-5.5) and 10 people with comparable age and sex (CTL) underwent threedimensional gait analysis, muscle function assessments (hip and trunk strength and endurance), and gait performance measures (Timed 25-Foot Walk - T25FW, 2-Minute Walk Test - 2MWT). Frontal and sagittal plane pelvis and trunk excursion during the stance period of walking were compared between groups; and in the MS group, associations were determined between kinematic variables, muscle function, spatiotemporal parameters, and gait performance.
Results:
Compared to the CTL group, the MS group had significantly greater sagittal plane trunk and pelvis excursion for both the stronger (p = 0.031) and weaker (p = 0.042) sides; less frontal plane trunk and pelvis excursion for both the stronger (p = 0.008) and weaker (p = 0.024) sides; and more sagittal plane trunk excursion for the stronger side (p = 0.047) during stance phase. There were low-to-moderate correlations in the MS group for sagittal plane pelvis excursion with muscle function (p = 0.019 to 0.030), spatiotemporal parameters (p < 0.001 to 0.005), and gait performance (p = < 0.001 to 0.001). Using linear regression, frontal and sagittal plane pelvis excursion were significant predictors of both T25FW and 2MWT, explaining 34 % and 46 % of the variance of each gait performance measure, respectively.
Significance:
Rehabilitation interventions may consider addressing pelvis movement compensations in order to improve spatiotemporal parameters and gait performance in people with MS.
