Abstract
People with MS (PwMS) often have a more- and less-affected side of the body which results in a variety of asymmetries, including measures of power, strength, muscle activity, and limb loading. Though many studies have identified asymmetries, their impact on gait and balance in PwMS is currently unclear. In this mini-review we first summarize previous findings of asymmetries in muscle function and limb loading and their impact on gait and balance in PwMS. We then provide potential explanations for this lack of consistency in the current literature, and propose study guidelines to improve future lower limb asymmetry studies. Making use of a unified approach to study lower limb asymmetry may then provide more clarity regarding their impact on mobility, specifically gait and balance, in PwMS.
Highlights
Loading Asymmetries on Gait and Balance in People With MultiplePeople with multiple sclerosis (MS) (PwMS) often have a more- and less-affected side of the body which results in a variety of asymmetries, including measures of power, strength, muscle activity, and limb loading
An estimated 2.3 million people worldwide are currently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) (Browne et al, 2014), which is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) (Noseworthy et al, 2000) manifested by a demyelination and neurodegeneration of the brain and spinal cord (Chaudhuri, 2013; Kindred et al, 2014)
While these findings included a variety of asymmetries in muscle function with a range of 10–38% in mildly disabled People with MS (PwMS), altogether, almost all studies suggested that asymmetries in muscle function likely result in increased muscle energy cost, early fatigability, postural instability, or walking impairments
Summary
People with MS (PwMS) often have a more- and less-affected side of the body which results in a variety of asymmetries, including measures of power, strength, muscle activity, and limb loading. Though many studies have identified asymmetries, their impact on gait and balance in PwMS is currently unclear. In this mini-review we first summarize previous findings of asymmetries in muscle function and limb loading and their impact on gait and balance in PwMS. We provide potential explanations for this lack of consistency in the current literature, and propose study guidelines to improve future lower limb asymmetry studies. Making use of a unified approach to study lower limb asymmetry may provide more clarity regarding their impact on mobility, gait and balance, in PwMS
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