ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in community mobility in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) at various ambulation levels. METHODS: Seventy-one adults with MS completed a survey about their mobility impairment and avoidance of challenging mobility tasks. Individuals were categorized as having mild, moderate, or severe gait impairment. RESULTS: Participants across the different functional groups significantly differed in perceived ambulation disability, fatigue impact, falls efficacy, quality of life, challenges with dual-tasking, and self-efficacy for community mobility. There were no significant differences between the mild and moderate gait impairment groups in crossing a busy street or going out in different ambient conditions. Significant differences were found between those with mild impairment and those with severe impairment in avoidance of various terrain elements, heavy manual doors, postural transitions, attentional situations, and crowded places. The only environmental dimension that significantly differed across all 3 groups was carrying 2 or more items, in which avoidance increased as ambulation worsened. CONCLUSIONS: Avoidance behavior for particular environmental features can begin relatively early in the disease process. This underscores the need to further study mobility differences, community ambulation, and participation restrictions in adults with MS.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Mobility challenges and cognitive impairments prominent in adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) significantly increase the risk of falling. Examining perceptions of how the simultaneous performance of completing motor and cognitive tasks impacts fall risk may have clinical utility. The purpose of this study was to identify the most significant self-reported predictors of falling including perceived dual-tasking. METHODS: Participants included 79 individuals with MS were surveyed and reported their fall history over the previous 3 months and completed the Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale -12 (MSWS-12), Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS), Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I), and two Dual-Task Questionnaires (DTQ), a previously published original one and a newly expanded version. RESULTS: Of the sample, 63 were classified as non-fallers and 16 as fallers. Backward stepwise regression analysis revealed that perceived ambulation disability and dual-tasking best predicted fall status (sensitivity of 57.7%, specificity of 90.6%, area under the receiving operating curve of 0.81 (95% CI 0.70-0.92). CONCLUSION: The inclusion of self-reported dual-tasking perceptions has utility in predicting fall risk. Effective assessment toward this end offers the potential for early detection and intervention.