James Vincent McLoughlin1,2, Christopher John Barr1, Benjamin Patritti3, Maria Crotty1, Stephen R Lord2,4, Daina L Sturnieks2,4. 1. a Department of Rehabilitation , Aged & Extended Care, Flinders University , Adelaide , South Australia, Australia . 2. b School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales , Sydney , Australia . 3. c South Australian Movement Analysis Centre, Repatriation General Hospital , Adelaide , South Australia, Australia , and. 4. d Falls and Balance Research Group, Neuroscience Research Australia, University of New South Wales , Sydney , Australia.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of 6 min of walking on fatigue, exertion and spatiotemporal, kinematic and kinetic gait parameters in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Thirty-four people with MS with moderate levels of disability completed measures of fatigue, exertion and instrumented gait analysis before and after 6-min trials of rest and walking (using a modified 6-min walk test, m6MWT). Ten age- and gender-matched healthy controls completed analysis before and after the m6MWT. RESULTS: The MS group had a significant increase in self-reported fatigue following the m6MWT; however, there was no effect on spatiotemporal gait parameters. During stance on the more affected side ankle dorsiflexion at initial contact decreased, while knee and hip flexor moments and hip power absorption increased. On the less affected side ankle and knee power absorption, and hip extensor moment all increased. Healthy controls showed increases in joint kinetics likely due to increased walking speeds following m6MWT. CONCLUSION: For people with MS, ankle dorsiflexion angle reduces at initial contact following walking induced fatigue, while increased power absorption at the hip, knee and ankle indicate gait inefficiencies that may contribute to higher levels of fatigue and exertion. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: The modified 6-min walk test (m6MWT) leads to significant increases in self-reported fatigue and exertion in people with MS. Following the m6MWT, there is significantly reduced ankle dorsiflexion angle at initial contact in the more affected leg in people with MS. This reveals an important walking-induced kinematic change that should be the target of future orthotic and strengthening interventions. In people with MS, increased power absorption primarily during the stance phase of gait following the m6MWT reveals important walking-induced muscle weakness that should also be monitored in future strengthening and gait retraining interventions.
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of 6 min of walking on fatigue, exertion and spatiotemporal, kinematic and kinetic gait parameters in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Thirty-four people with MS with moderate levels of disability completed measures of fatigue, exertion and instrumented gait analysis before and after 6-min trials of rest and walking (using a modified 6-min walk test, m6MWT). Ten age- and gender-matched healthy controls completed analysis before and after the m6MWT. RESULTS: The MS group had a significant increase in self-reported fatigue following the m6MWT; however, there was no effect on spatiotemporal gait parameters. During stance on the more affected side ankle dorsiflexion at initial contact decreased, while knee and hip flexor moments and hip power absorption increased. On the less affected side ankle and knee power absorption, and hip extensor moment all increased. Healthy controls showed increases in joint kinetics likely due to increased walking speeds following m6MWT. CONCLUSION: For people with MS, ankle dorsiflexion angle reduces at initial contact following walking induced fatigue, while increased power absorption at the hip, knee and ankle indicate gait inefficiencies that may contribute to higher levels of fatigue and exertion. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: The modified 6-min walk test (m6MWT) leads to significant increases in self-reported fatigue and exertion in people with MS. Following the m6MWT, there is significantly reduced ankle dorsiflexion angle at initial contact in the more affected leg in people with MS. This reveals an important walking-induced kinematic change that should be the target of future orthotic and strengthening interventions. In people with MS, increased power absorption primarily during the stance phase of gait following the m6MWT reveals important walking-induced muscle weakness that should also be monitored in future strengthening and gait retraining interventions.
Authors: Christina Salchow-Hömmen; Matej Skrobot; Magdalena C E Jochner; Thomas Schauer; Andrea A Kühn; Nikolaus Wenger Journal: Front Hum Neurosci Date: 2022-02-03 Impact factor: 3.169