Associations between respiratory function, balance, postural control, and fatigue in persons with multiple sclerosis:...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pulmonology
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) commonly presents with fatigue, impaired postural control, and reduced respiratory capacity.
• Limited research exists on the interrelationships between these common MS symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare respiratory function in individuals with MS against a control group.
• To investigate the relationship between fatigue, respiratory function, and postural control in individuals with MS.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 17 individuals with MS and 17 healthy controls.
• Assessed fatigue (VAS-F, Borg Dyspnea Scale), postural control (Mini-BESTest, BBS, TUG, TIS), and respiratory capacities (MIP, MEP, FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, diaphragmatic excursion, diaphragmatic thickness).

Main Results:

• Significant differences in most respiratory and ultrasound parameters were found between MS patients and controls, except for diaphragmatic thickness.
• Postural control measures (BBS, Mini-BESTest) strongly correlated with respiratory function variables (MEP, FVC, FEV1).
• Fatigue measures (Borg Dyspnea Scale, VAS-F) showed correlations with balance tests (BBS, TUG, Mini-BESTest) but not with respiratory variables.

Conclusions:

• Impaired postural control and balance in MS are associated with diminished respiratory capacity and fatigue.
• Respiratory capacity deficits and fatigue in MS patients are not directly correlated.
• MS patients exhibit differences in diaphragmatic excursion and respiratory capacities compared to healthy individuals.