Multiple sclerosis and mobility restriction.

Examination of mobility restriction among multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and its relationship to selected disease and demographic characteristics was undertaken using data gathered in the National Multiple Sclerosis Survey. Whether and where an individual needed assistance and the types of assistance needed were the dependent variables. These data were crosstabulated with the following patient characteristics: sex, race, educational level, region of residence, age on prevalence day, marital status, awareness of diagnosis, diagnostic code, duration of disease and age at first diagnosis. More than half of the patients reported needing assistance both indoors and outdoors. Significant factors in increasing the percentage needing assistance were as follows: longer duration, older at the time of first diagnosis, admitted awareness of the diagnosis, currently unmarried, nonwhite, and a "probable" MS diagnostic code. Most patients relied on a wheelchair or a person's assistance for help while few relied on crutches or leg braces.