Article

Increasing awareness of the significance of ambulatory limitations in people with
multiple sclerosis (MS) requires a regular assessment of walking ability in order
to monitor disease dynamics. However, it is questionable whether the standard
tools are sufficiently sensitive to detect mobility deficits in patients who are
minimally impaired. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to examine an
extended assessment tool characterizing spatio-temporal parameters of gait and
jogging in people with minimally impaired MS. Twenty relapsing remitting patients
diagnosed with MS, 8 women and 12 men, aged 36.3 +/- 9.2 y, EDSS mean score 1.8
+/- 1.2, were recruited from the Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sheba Medical Center,
Tel Hashomer, Israel to participate in the study. Twenty apparently healthy
subjects (10 women and 10 men), aged 34.3 +/- 7.4 years served as controls.
Balance-, gait- and jogging-related spatio-temporal parameters were obtained
using the Zebris FDM-T Treadmill (Zebris((R)) Medical GmbH, Germany). Each
subject completed a sequence of 3 jogging tests under different conditions. Gait
and balance tests were performed prior and after jogging trials. When comparing
gait evaluation, jogging revealed additional abnormalities in the MS group vs.
the healthy controls. In addition to step time asymmetry and larger step width,
jogging was associated with a slower self-selected velocity, shorter step length,
longer stance phase and a prolonged double support phase. People minimally
affected by MS have the ability to jog. However, clinician's should be aware of
the possible deficits accompanying this popular activity.
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