A common problem faced by people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is poor balance control during standing and walking. In this research grant we aim to further our understanding of these disturbances in balance control in MS during movement tasks that are common to activities of daily living. The long-term goal of our research program is to maximize physical function and improve quality of life through targeted intervention and rehabilitation programs in people with MS. Adequate control of posture and walking (gait) are essential aspects of physical function in everyday activities. In contrast to other neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, the research on postural and gait control in MS is only beginning to emerge. Given the essential role that balance and gait play in daily life, a more thorough understanding of the changes in balance and gait in MS will be essential for optimizing physical function and intervention programs.

The research in the current proposal is aimed at contributing to a base of knowledge regarding the changes in the control of posture and locomotion in MS. It will also address other important aspects of physical function that are affected in people with MS, namely changes in muscle strength, vision perception and fatigue. The proposed studies will examine the links between lower body muscle strength, muscle strength differences between right and left legs, fatigue and postural stability in people with MS. It is expected that differences in fatigue will affect postural stability in these laboratory tasks that mimic essential aspects of daily living. As a result of this project, we will have the information necessary to begin to develop intervention programs for balance and gait control in people with MS.

An important element of our research is that it not only is aimed at identifying the negative aspects of balance and gait control in MS. We also explicitly aim to identify the adaptive strategies that people with MS use to control balance and locomotion. Our preliminary work, which uses novel aspects of Chaos Theory and state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, has provided us with initial information regarding the nature of these adaptive strategies in people with MS. This information will be as critical and relevant in developing effective intervention programs for people with MS as the balance problems that we identify.