Project R-13415

Insights into gait biomechanics and neural activity related to walkingrelated fatigability in people with Multiple Sclerosis to identify pathways for rehabilitation (Research)

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disease with different symptoms including fatigue, fatigability, and walking impairments affecting daily life. Fatigability is defined as a decrease in performance over time in a given task. A majority of persons with MS show walking-related fatigability during 6 minutes of walking, which is clinically defined as a 10% reduction in walking speed. So far, the mechanisms of walking-related fatigability in MS are unknown and the phenomenon has been speculated to be related to decreased motor control manifesting in biomechanical changes, reduced attention, higher perceived fatigue or instability during walking, and incoordination in movements. This project is surpassing the clinical measurement of walking-related fatigability. Using biomechanical measures (sensors and highresolution movement analysis- GRAIL system) to define different gait profiles and measures of brain activation (using fNIRS) related to attention and motor control. These measures will be evaluated in an overground and treadmill 6-minute Walking Test in patients with MS with and without clinically walking-related fatigability and healthy controls. By combining biomechanical and neural outcomes, we will provide insight into the underlying motor and cognitive mechanisms of walking fatigability in MS, paving the way for targeted rehabilitation to reduce walking-related fatigability in MS.

01 November 2022 - 31 October 2026