@article{ref1,
title="Concern about falling is associated with step length in persons with multiple sclerosis",
journal="European journal of physical and rehabilitation medicine",
year="2014",
author="Kalron, A. and Frid, L. and Gurevich, M.",
volume="51",
number="2",
pages="197-205",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Fear of falling is one of the major concerns of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Although, it is likely that associations between spatio--temporal gait parameters and fear of falling exist in the MS population, these relationships have never been extensively studied. <br><br>AIM: Determine if fear of falling is associated with spatio--temporal gait parameters in persons with MS. <br><br>DESIGN: Cross sectional study with a control group. SETTINGS: Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel--Hashomer, Israel. <br><br>METHODS: One--hundred and thirty relapsing--remitting patients diagnosed with MS, 79 women and 51 men aged 42.6 (S.D=11.9), participated in this investigation. Twenty--five healthy subjects, 14 women and 11 men aged 38.5 (S.D= 12.3), served as controls. Spatio--temporal parameters of gait were studied using the GAITRiteTM system (CIR Systems, Inc. NJ, USA);; Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES--I) was used to assess the level of concern relating to falls. Participants who scored >20 were classified as more concerned (n=83), while those scoring ≤20 were defined as less concerned (n=47). <br><br>RESULTS: More concerned participants walked slower, took smaller steps, prolonged double support phase, wider base of support and a shorter single support phase compared to the less concerned group. According to step one of the multiple linear regression model, the spatial gait component accounted for 30.9% of the variance related to fear of falls (F = 56.3, P < 0.001). Step two added the gait temporal component, thus increasing the variance to 36.7% (F = 36.2, P < 0.001). Step three added the gait asymmetry parameters, thus increasing the predictor model to account for 40.3% of the variance in fear of falling (F = 29.6, P < 0.001). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The present study provides quantitative evidence establishing spatio--temporal gait performance in individuals with MS relative to the level of fear of falling. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Spatio--temporal gait parameters may aid in assessing the level of fear of falling in people with MS. Step length may also serve as a surrogate outcome for assessing outcomes of interventions aimed at reducing fear of falling in the MS population. performance in individuals with MS relative to the level of fear of falling.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1973-9087",
doi="",
url="http://dx.doi.org/"
}