Article

OBJECTIVES: To examine the association between spasticity and
postural control in subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS). DESIGN:
Cross-sectional. SETTING:
Motor control laboratory.
PARTICIPANTS: Subjects with
MS (n=16, 2 male) and age and sex-matched subjects (n=16) participated in the
investigation. All subjects with MS had Expanded Disability Status Scale scores
between 0 and 4.5 and modified Ashworth scale scores between 1 and 3.
INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Postural control was
measured with a force platform that quantifies ground reaction forces and moments
in mediolateral and anteroposterior directions. Postural control was indexed with
anterior-posterior sway range, medial-lateral sway range, 95% elliptical area of
the deviations of center of pressure (COP), velocity of COP sway, and the
frequency at which 95% of spectral profile was contained. Participants with MS
further underwent assessment of the soleus Hoffman reflex (H-reflex) as an index
of spasticity. RESULTS: Cluster analysis on H-reflex data identified groups of MS
participants with high spasticity (n=7) and low spasticity (n=9). There were no
differences in age, duration of MS, and disease severity between MS groups. There
were no differences in anterior-posterior sway range between any of the groups.
The high spasticity group had greater COP area, velocity, and mediolateral sway
compared with the low spasticity and control group, and the low spasticity group
had postural control values between the high spasticity and control groups.
CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of results suggests that spasticity contributes to
postural deficits observed in MS.
CI - Copyright (c) 2010 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by
Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS