Citation

Sosnoff JJ, Balantrapu S, Pilutti LA, Sandroff BM, Morrison S, Motl RW. Arch. Phys. Med. Rehabil. 2013; 94(8): 1567-1572.

Affiliation

Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA. Electronic address: jsosnoff@illinois.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.apmr.2013.02.009

PMID

23422407

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine mobility, balance, fall risk and cognition in older adults with multiple sclerosis (MS) as a function of fall frequency. DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional design. SETTING: University research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Community dwelling persons with MS (N=27) aged between 50 and 75 years were divided into two groups (single (n=11) and recurrent fallers (n=16; > 2 falls/12 months)) based on previous falls history. INTERVENTION: Not Applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mobility was assessed using a variety of measures including, Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12), walking speed (Timed 25 Foot Walk), endurance (6-Minute Walk) and functional mobility (Timed Up and Go). Balance was assessed with the Berg Balance Scale, posturography and self-reported balance confidence. Falls risk was assessed with the Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA). Cognitive processing speed was quantified with the symbol digit modalities test (SDMT) and the paced auditory serial addition test (PASAT). RESULTS: Recurrent fallers had slower cognitive processing speed than single fallers (p's ≤ .01). There was no difference in mobility, balance or fall risk between recurrent and single fallers (p's > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that cognitive processing speed is associated with fall frequency and may have implications for fall prevention strategies targeting recurrent fallers with MS.

Language: en