Project R-12105

Insight in Walking-related fatigability in persons with MS: Kinetic and kinematic gait analysis in different MS Groups & Healthy (Research)

The main focus of this project is to investigate potential gait determinants of walking-related fatigability in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) with high resolution. Walking impairments occur in 93% of PwMS within 10 years of diagnosis and the impact of muscle weakness or hypertonia on walking come along with walking fatigability. In addition, objective parameters of gait patterns may also change during prolonged walking in PwMS, especially when walking performance is challenged. This PROMOBILIA project focuses on innovative and comprehensive measures of gait analysis using the Gait Real-time Analysis Interactive Lab (GRAIL, Motekforce Link) system, allowing self-paced treadmill walking. The GRAIL enables three-dimensional (3D) motion capture and will be used to analyse gait (spatiotemporal, kinetic and kinematic) of 30 people (10 healthy subjects, 10 MS patients with walking fatigability and 10 Ms patients without walking-related fatigability) during walking tests. This project will allow us to perform these advanced tests additionally to the clinical measures.The GRAIL 3D gait analysis will allow to investigate the impact of changes in gait biomechanics on walking fatigability during two different protocols of walking (i.e., the 6-minutes walking and a challenging fatiguing walking protocol). As well, in a small sample of 10 MS patients with walking fatigability, we will examine if a dance or balance intervention could impact on the gait movement pattern. The overall aim of the project is to verify and understand the alterations in gait patterns that are related to the slowing down during prolonged walking and when the systems are put under stress during a fatiguing walking protocol. The gait parameters will also be compared with performance on isolated interlimb (knee single joint) coordination tasks and related to cognitive function and fatigability measures.

01 September 2021 - 31 December 2022