Gait pattern differences between different forms of multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system. MS can cause different patterns of motor disturbances and gait difficulties in all its main clinical phenotypes: relapsing–remitting (RRMS), secondary-progressive (SPMS) or primary-progressive MS (PPMS). We mesasured gait pattern and characteristics in 54 MS patients, 40 with RRMS and 14 with PPMS. In those two forms we compared effects of dual task paradigm on gait characteristics (motor or mental task performance during gait) and compared gait pattern parameters (gait cycle time, stride length, single and double limb support time, as well as their coefficients of variation). Gait cycle is generally considered as automatically generated rhythmic pattern. However, tasks performed during gait in MS are affecting gait parameters differently. Cycle time is longer and stride length is shorter in RR compared to PP form, while motor and mental tasks are affecting gait parameters of both MS forms in similar manner, increasing their coefficients of variation. Changes in gait parameters and characteristics in RRMS and PPMS forms might be the consequences of different internal and external interactions. Those differences could help to design and separate treatment strategies for different MS forms.