Faculty of Physical Education, University of Brasília, DF, Brazil.
Base Hospital, Department of Neurology, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasília, DF, Brazil.
Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2018 Feb;20:181-185. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2018.01.024. Epub 2018 Feb 2.
Physiological factors such as muscle weakness and balance could explain declines in walking distance by multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The purpose of this study was to characterize levels and examine associations among decline in walking distance, balance and muscular strength in women with mild MS.
Participants included 28 women with mild relapsing-remitting MS and 21 women without MS. We executed the 6-min walk test (6MWT) to verify declines in walking distance. Isokinetic knee flexion (KF) and extension (KE) muscle strength was measured using a dynamometer. Balance was quantified using a force platform, with eyes open and closed, on a rigid and foam surface.
The MS patients presented declines in walking, lower KF muscle strength, and worse balance than controls. KF strength and balance correlated with walking in the MS group. The KF strength explained differences between groups in walking. The KF strength and balance presented as predictors of walking slowing down in the 6MWT, in mild MS.
Women with mild MS have strength impairment of knee flexor muscles and balance control impairment that may explain walking related motor fatigability during prolonged walking.
肌肉无力和平衡等生理因素可能会导致多发性硬化症（MS）患者的步行距离下降。本研究的目的是描述轻度 MS 女性步行距离下降的程度，并探讨其与平衡和肌肉力量之间的关系。
参与者包括 28 名患有轻度复发缓解型 MS 的女性和 21 名无 MS 的女性。我们通过 6 分钟步行测试（6MWT）来验证步行距离的下降。使用测力计测量等速膝关节屈伸（KF）和伸展（KE）肌肉力量。使用力平台，在刚性和泡沫表面上睁眼和闭眼来量化平衡。
MS 患者的步行能力下降，膝关节屈肌力量较弱，平衡能力较对照组差。MS 组的 KF 力量与步行能力相关。KF 力量解释了两组之间步行能力的差异。KF 力量和平衡能力是轻度 MS 患者 6MWT 中步行速度下降的预测指标。
患有轻度 MS 的女性存在膝关节屈肌力量受损和平衡控制受损，这可能解释了长时间行走时与步行相关的肌肉疲劳。
