PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to assess dual-task cost to spatio-temporal gait parameters in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and a matched control group.
METHOD: The MS group was composed of 17 participants with a diagnosis of MS and an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score < 6. A total of 17 healthy participants were allocated to the Control Group by stratification. Controls were matched on the basis of age, sex, sociocultural habits and body structure. Dual-task cost was determined by within-group repeated-measures ANOVA. Participants were instructed to ambulate under normal conditions and perform a discrimination and decision-making task concurrently. Then, between-group ANOVA was used to assess differences in mean dual-task cost between groups and determine dual-task cost differential. Testing was performed using 3-D photogrammetry and an electronic walkway.
RESULTS: Based on dual-task cost differential, gait cycle time increase (-5.8%) and gait speed decrease (6.3%) due to MS-induced impairment.
CONCLUSIONS: During single-task and dual-task conditions, gait speed was lower in MS participants, due to a shorter step length and increased swing time. Increased gait time might be the result of compensatory mechanisms adopted to maintain stability while walking specially during the double-support phases.