• PM R · Nov 2013

    Observational Study

    Measures of balance performance are affected by a rested versus fatigued testing condition in people with multiple sclerosis.

    • Kurt Jackson and Kimberly Edginton Bigelow.
    • Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Department of Health and Sports Science, University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469(∗). Electronic address: kurt.jackson@udayton.edu.
    • PM R. 2013 Nov 1; 5 (11): 949-56.

    ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of a rested and fatigued testing condition on measures of balance in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).DesignProspective observational study.SettingAcademic research laboratory.ParticipantsFifteen ambulatory adults with relapsing remitting or secondary progressive MS with moderate disability.MethodsMeasures of postural control, dynamic balance, and fatigue were assessed during a "rested" and "fatigued" testing condition on separate days.Main Outcome MeasurementsStatic posturography was used to assess postural control. The Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test and Dynamic Gait Index were used to assess dynamic balance. The chronic fatigue level was measured by using the Fatigue Severity Scale, and acute fatigue was assessed by using a visual analog scale at multiple time points during testing.ResultsDuring the fatigued condition, the participants reported a significant (P < .05) increase in acute fatigue levels (visual analog scale) and demonstrated a significant (P < .05) decrease in performance on measures of postural control and dynamic balance when compared with the rested condition. However, no significant relationship was identified between the changes in fatigue and changes in balance performance.ConclusionsMeasures of balance performance and acute fatigue may be affected by rested versus fatigued testing conditions in people with MS. However, no significant relationships between changes in balance and fatigue were identified. Therefore, clinicians should use caution when making assumptions about the influence of fatigue on balance performance and should test for individual responses. Clinicians and researchers should also consider controlling for factors such as time of day and prior physical activity when administering standardized measures of balance in people with MS.Copyright © 2013 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

      Pubmed     Full text   Copy Citation     Plaintext  

      Add institutional full text...

    Notes

     
    Knowledge, pearl, summary or comment to share?
    300 characters remaining
    help        
    You can also include formatting, links, images and footnotes in your notes
    • Simple formatting can be added to notes, such as *italics*, _underline_ or **bold**.
    • Superscript can be denoted by <sup>text</sup> and subscript <sub>text</sub>.
    • Numbered or bulleted lists can be created using either numbered lines 1. 2. 3., hyphens - or asterisks *.
    • Links can be included with: [my link to pubmed](http://pubmed.com)
    • Images can be included with: ![alt text](https://bestmedicaljournal.com/study_graph.jpg "Image Title Text")
    • For footnotes use [^1](This is a footnote.) inline.
    • Or use an inline reference [^1] to refer to a longer footnote elseweher in the document [^1]: This is a long footnote..

    hide…