Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Department of Health and Sports Science, University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469(∗).
PM R. 2013 Nov;5(11):949-56. doi: 10.1016/j.pmrj.2013.06.001. Epub 2013 Jun 5.
To investigate the effects of a rested and fatigued testing condition on measures of balance in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Prospective observational study.
Academic research laboratory.
Fifteen ambulatory adults with relapsing remitting or secondary progressive MS with moderate disability.
Measures of postural control, dynamic balance, and fatigue were assessed during a "rested" and "fatigued" testing condition on separate days.
Static posturography was used to assess postural control. The Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test and Dynamic Gait Index were used to assess dynamic balance. The chronic fatigue level was measured by using the Fatigue Severity Scale, and acute fatigue was assessed by using a visual analog scale at multiple time points during testing.
During the fatigued condition, the participants reported a significant (P < .05) increase in acute fatigue levels (visual analog scale) and demonstrated a significant (P < .05) decrease in performance on measures of postural control and dynamic balance when compared with the rested condition. However, no significant relationship was identified between the changes in fatigue and changes in balance performance.
Measures of balance performance and acute fatigue may be affected by rested versus fatigued testing conditions in people with MS. However, no significant relationships between changes in balance and fatigue were identified. Therefore, clinicians should use caution when making assumptions about the influence of fatigue on balance performance and should test for individual responses. Clinicians and researchers should also consider controlling for factors such as time of day and prior physical activity when administering standardized measures of balance in people with MS.
研究休息和疲劳测试条件对多发性硬化症（MS）患者平衡测量的影响。
前瞻性观察性研究。
学术研究实验室。
15 名有缓解复发或继发进展性 MS 且有中度残疾的活动能力成人。
在不同的日子里，在“休息”和“疲劳”测试条件下评估姿势控制、动态平衡和疲劳的测量。
静态姿势描记术用于评估姿势控制。使用 Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test 和动态步态指数评估动态平衡。使用疲劳严重程度量表测量慢性疲劳水平，并在测试过程中的多个时间点使用视觉模拟量表评估急性疲劳。
在疲劳状态下，与休息状态相比，参与者报告急性疲劳水平（视觉模拟量表）显著增加（P <.05），并且在姿势控制和动态平衡测量上的表现显著下降（P <.05）。然而，疲劳变化与平衡表现变化之间没有发现显著关系。
在 MS 患者中，平衡表现和急性疲劳的测量可能会受到休息与疲劳测试条件的影响。但是，没有发现平衡变化和疲劳之间的显著关系。因此，临床医生在根据疲劳对平衡表现的影响做出假设时应谨慎，并应测试个体反应。临床医生和研究人员在为 MS 患者进行平衡的标准化测量时，还应考虑控制时间和先前的身体活动等因素。
