Open AccessPilot trial of speed-intensive gait training on balance and walking in people with multiple sclerosis
Author(s) -
Herb Karpatkin,
Allison Benson,
N Gardner,
Naomi Leb,
Nicole Ramos,
Huiman Xu,
Evan T. Cohen
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of therapy and rehabilitation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.193
H-Index - 24
eISSN - 1759-779X
pISSN - 1741-1645
DOI - 10.12968/ijtr.2020.0059
Subject(s) - gait , physical medicine and rehabilitation , balance (ability) , preferred walking speed , medicine , physical therapy , gait training , rehabilitation , multiple sclerosis , psychiatry
Background/Aims Diminished walking speed and endurance is commonly experienced by individuals with multiple sclerosis. Speed-intensive gait training has led to improvements in walking speed and endurance in other neurological populations; however, its effect in persons with multiple sclerosis is unknown. This pilot study examined the feasibility, safety and efficacy of speed-intensive gait training in a sample of people with multiple sclerosis.Methods A total of eight participants (five women, median Expanded Disability Status Scale 3.5) underwent a 6-week, twice weekly speed-intensive gait training programme. Walking speed and endurance, balance and fatigue were measured pre- and post-intervention.Results Speed-intensive gait training was feasible, with excellent adherence and safety. It proved effective, with improvements in walking speed (P=0.05), walking endurance (P=0.036) and balance (P=0.041) without an increase in fatigue.Conclusions The intermittent design of speed-intensive gait training may enable individuals with multiple sclerosis to achieve higher training volumes than traditional models. Although further study is warranted, rehabilitation clinicians should consider adding speed-intensive gait training as an intervention to improve walking and balance in this patient group.