Gait variability in persons with multiple sclerosis

Socie, Michael

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/31135 Copy

Description

Title

Gait variability in persons with multiple sclerosis

Author(s)

Socie, Michael

Issue Date

2012-05-22T00:30:16Z

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Sosnoff, Jacob J.

Department of Study

Mechanical Sci & Engineering

Discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Gait
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Variability

Abstract

This thesis contains three investigations examining gait variability in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), which is a neurological disease that can result in significant walking impairment. Gait variability, i.e. fluctuations in the mechanics and kinematics of steps during walking, has been associated with motor control function, stability and falls in other populations but has not been thoroughly documented in people with MS. In this thesis, gait variability is documented in different samples of people with MS using a variety of metrics. The first investigation examines differences in variability of spatiotemporal gait parameters between people with MS and healthy controls and associations between variability of spatiotemporal gait parameters and disability in MS. The second investigation determines variability of lower-limb joint and segment angles at various walking speeds in MS. The third investigation documents a novel metric for quantification of footfall placement variability and subsequent associations between footfall variability and fall history in MS. Results herein include greater variability of step length, step time, and footfall placement variability in people with MS compared to controls, decrease in ankle angle variability with increasing walking velocity in MS, and that increased footfall placement variability, indexed by a novel metric, separates recurrent and non fallers with MS. Additional research into gait variability in MS is warranted to further evaluate differences between MS and controls as well as to investigate underlying factors that may drive gait variability in MS.

Graduation Semester

2012-05

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/31135

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2012 Michael Socie

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