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Exercise-induced changes in gait kinematics in multiple sclerosis with minimal neurological disability
Georgia Andreopoulou1, Thomas H Mercer1, Julia Guerrero Enriquez2
1Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, Queen Margaret University, Musselburgh, UK.
Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
|November 24, 2020
Summary
Exercise can worsen gait in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), even with mild disability. Gait analysis after exercise detected early signs of neurological deficits, including foot drop, in MS patients.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Exercise-induced gait deterioration is common in people with MS (pwMS) and worsens with disability.
- Objective documentation of gait changes in early-stage MS is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively document exercise-induced gait changes in pwMS with minimal neurological disability.
- To assess the utility of gait kinematics in detecting early neurological deficits.
Main Methods:
- 3D motion analysis recorded gait kinematics and spatio-temporal parameters.
- Participants included pwMS with minimal disability (n=30) and healthy controls (n=15).
- Gait was assessed before and after a 20-minute treadmill walk or run.
Main Results:
- A significant decrease in peak ankle dorsiflexion post-exercise was observed in both MS groups, but not controls.
- 14 out of 30 MS participants exhibited exercise-induced gait deterioration.
- Pre-exercise gait in one MS group showed higher peak dorsiflexion with shorter step length and higher cadence.
Conclusions:
- Exercise-induced gait deterioration (foot drop) can be detected in early-stage MS patients.
- Gait kinematics analysis before and after exercise can monitor subtle neurological deficits.
- This method shows potential for early MS diagnosis and management.
