Quantifying upper-limb motor impairment in people with multiple sclerosis: A physiological profiling approach

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Upper-limb sensory and motor impairments are prevalent in multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Current functional impairment criteria for MS primarily focus on mobility, balance, and postural stability, often overlooking upper-limb function.
• There is a need for validated assessments of upper-limb function in MS patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the validity of the upper-limb Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) in individuals with MS.
• To investigate if PPA domains (muscle strength, dexterity, arm stability, position sense, skin sensation, bimanual coordination) can differentiate MS patients from healthy controls.
• To assess the correlation between PPA results and validated measures of upper-limb function and MS-specific disability.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 40 participants with MS and 80 healthy controls.
• All participants completed 13 upper-limb PPA tests in a single session.
• Data analysis included correlational analyses (Pearson's r, Spearman's rho) to assess relationships between PPA performance, self-reported function, and disability scales.

Main Results:

• Individuals with MS demonstrated impairments across all tested physiological domains.
• Performance in 4 out of 13 PPA tests correlated significantly with self-reported upper-limb function.
• Three PPA tests were associated with the degree of MS-specific disability.

Conclusions:

• The upper-limb PPA is a valid and clinically suitable tool for assessing upper-limb function in people with MS.
• Clinicians should prioritize assessing motor speed, fine motor control, and functional tasks in MS patients.
• These prioritized domains are frequently and significantly impaired in individuals with MS.