@article{ref1,
title="Evaluating the contribution of reactive balance to prediction of fall rates cross-sectionally and longitudinally in persons with multiple sclerosis",
journal="Gait and posture",
year="2021",
author="Van Liew, Charles and Huisinga, Jessie M. and Peterson, Daniel S.",
volume="92",
number="",
pages="30-35",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Falls are common in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Reactive postural control-one's response to a balance perturbation-is likely an aspect of fall risk; however, the relationship between reactive posture and falls is poorly understood in PwMS. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: We evaluated tibialis anterior muscle onset latency (TA latency) after balance perturbations as a predictor of fall rates in PwMS, controlling for clinical, functional, sensory, psychological, and cognitive factors. <br><br>METHOD: At baseline of the 18-month cohort study, 122 participants with MS (EDSS = 2.23) were included. Assessments were conducted every 6 months. <br><br>RESULTS: Of the original 122 participants at the baseline collection, data were available from 41, 39, and 34 people at the 6, 12, and 18 month follow-ups, respectively. Percent fallers at the four time points were 35.3%, 12.2%, 15.4%, and 20.5%. Cross-sectionally (i.e., at baseline), the Timed Up-and-Go, Falls Efficacy Scale - International (FES-I), and TA latency after perturbations were significant predictors of retrospective falls rates using negative binomial regression. Longitudinally, random-effects negative binomial regression found that trait-level FES-I, Stroop Color-Word, and TA latency were significant predictors for falls rates. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Delays in automatic postural responses seem to account uniquely for fall rates in PwMS-beyond clinical, balance, or mobility measures. These delays may contribute to the increased fall rate in PwMS. In addition to brief self-report instruments (FES-I) and cognitive assessments, muscle onset after balance perturbations may be a valuable tool for predicting falls in those with MS.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0966-6362",
doi="10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.11.008",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2021.11.008"
}