• Mark M Mañago, Jeffrey R Hebert, John Kittelson, and Margaret Schenkman.
• Physical Therapy Program, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado, and Department of Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Hospital, 1635 Aurora Ct, Aurora, CO 80045.
• Phys Ther. 2018 Jul 1; 98 (7): 595-604.

BackgroundThe relative importance of lower extremity and trunk muscle function to gait in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) is unknown.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the association of lower extremity and trunk muscle function with gait performance in people who have MS and mild-to-moderate disability.DesignThis was a cross-sectional, observational study.MethodsParticipants were people who had an Expanded Disability Status Scale score of ≤ 5.5. Eleven lower extremity and trunk muscles were assessed using handheld dynamometry or endurance tests. Gait performance was assessed with the Timed 25-Foot (7.62 m) Walk (T25FW) and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). Regression analysis was used to quantify the association between gait outcomes and muscle variables.ResultsSeventy-two participants with MS and a mean Expanded Disability Status Scale score of 3.5 (SD = 1.14) were enrolled. Adjusted for age and sex, the multivariate model including hip abduction, ankle plantar flexion, trunk flexion, and knee flexion explained 57% of the adjusted variance in the T25FW; hip abduction, ankle plantar flexion, and trunk flexion explained 61% of the adjusted variance in the 6MWT. The strongest predictors were ankle plantar flexion endurance for the T25FW and hip abduction strength for the 6MWT: a 1-SD increase in ankle plantar flexion (15.2 heel-raise repetitions) was associated with a 0.33-second reduction in the T25WT (95% CI = - 0.71 to - 0.14 seconds); a 1-SD increase in normalized hip abduction strength (0.14 kg/body mass index) was associated with a 54.4-m increase in the 6MWT (28.99 to 79.81 m).LimitationsDifferent measurement scales for independent variables were included because the muscle function assessment used either force or endurance.ConclusionsFor the major muscles in the lower extremity and trunk, hip abduction, ankle plantar flexion, trunk flexion, and knee flexion were the strongest predictors of gait performance.

17 keywords...

hide…