Knee flexor strength and balance control impairment may explain declines during prolonged walking in women with mild multiple sclerosis

• Published in: Multiple sclerosis and related disorders Vol. 20; pp. 181 - 185
• Main Authors: Ramari, Cintia, Moraes, Andréa G., Tauil, Carlos B., von Glehn, Felipe, Motl, Robert, de David, Ana C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.02.2018
• Subjects: Adult; Balance; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disability Evaluation; Distance-walked-index; Exercise Test; Fatigue - physiopathology; Female; Humans; Knee; Linear Models; Mobility Limitation; Multiple sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting - physiopathology; Muscle Strength - physiology; Muscle Strength Dynamometer; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Postural Balance - physiology; Relapsing-remitting; Self Report; Severity of Illness Index; Six-minute walking; Strength; Visual Perception; Walking - physiology; Relapsing-remitting; Multiple sclerosis; Six-minute walking; Distance-walked-index; Balance; Strength
• ISSN: 2211-0348; 2211-0356
• DOI: 10.1016/j.msard.2018.01.024

Physiological factors such as muscle weakness and balance could explain declines in walking distance by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The purpose of this study was to characterize levels and examine associations among decline in walking distance, balance and muscular strength in women with mild MS. Participants included 28 women with mild relapsing-remitting MS and 21 women without MS. We executed the 6-min walk test (6MWT) to verify declines in walking distance. Isokinetic knee flexion (KF) and extension (KE) muscle strength was measured using a dynamometer. Balance was quantified using a force platform, with eyes open and closed, on a rigid and foam surface. The MS patients presented declines in walking, lower KF muscle strength, and worse balance than controls. KF strength and balance correlated with walking in the MS group. The KF strength explained differences between groups in walking. The KF strength and balance presented as predictors of walking slowing down in the 6MWT, in mild MS. Women with mild MS have strength impairment of knee flexor muscles and balance control impairment that may explain walking related motor fatigability during prolonged walking. •Women with mild MS had a limited walking capacity and reached an early point of fatigue.•Women with mild MS presented knee flexor strength and postural control impairment.•Weakness of knee flexor muscle may explains difference in walking between mild MS patients and controls.•Knee flexor strength and balance impairment are predictors of decline in walking distance in women with mild MS.