This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Thoumie, P Articles by Amarenco, G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Thoumie, P Articles by Amarenco, G Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Motor determinants of gait in 100 ambulatory patients with multiple sclerosis

Service de Rééducation Neuro-Orthopédique and Inserm U731, Paris, France, philippe.thoumie{at}rth.ap-hop-paris.fr

D Lamotte

Service de Rééducation Neuro-Orthopédique and Inserm U731, Paris, France

S Cantalloube

Service de Rééducation Neuro-Orthopédique and Inserm U731, Paris, France

M Faucher

Service de Rééducation Neuro-Orthopédique and Inserm U731, Paris, France

G Amarenco

Service de Rééducation Neurologique, Hôpital Rothschild (AP-HP), 75012 Paris, France

A prospective analysis of gait and strength parameters was performed in 100 patients diagnosed with MS and pyramidal involvement admitted in a rehabilitation unit. The patients were divided into two groups based on their ability to walk in daily life (nonassisted or cane-assisted gait) and into four clinical subgroups depending on associated involvements such as sensory loss or cerebellar ataxia. Twenty healthy subjects were studied as a control group. Gait parameters were evaluated with a Locometre and muscle strength with an isokinetic dynamometer. The results showed that the average velocity and strength of the hamstring and quadriceps were strongly correlated and reduced in the MS group in comparison with the control, and in the cane-assisted group compared with the nonassisted group. Gait velocity tended to be more correlated to hamstring strength in the nonassisted group with a determination coefficient (r²) reaching a value of 0.44 in the sensory subgroup. These findings provide evidence that a correlation between strength reduction and gait impairment is obvious whatever the clinical form in patients with MS. This correlation is higher with hamstrings but may change depending on the disability level and the clinical form. This could be taken into account in the individual assessment of further rehabilitation programmes.

Key Words: Correlation • gait parameters • multiple sclerosis • strength

Multiple Sclerosis, Vol. 11, No. 4, 485-491 (2005)
DOI: 10.1191/1352458505ms1176oa


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. C. Lo and E. W. Triche Improving Gait in Multiple Sclerosis Using Robot-Assisted, Body Weight Supported Treadmill Training Neurorehabil Neural Repair, November 1, 2008; 22(6): 661 - 671. [Abstract] [PDF]