TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Mobility measures differentiate falls risk status in persons with multiple sclerosis: an exploratory study
JO  - NeuroRehabilitation
A1  - Sebastião, Emerson
A1  - Learmonth, Yvonne C.
A1  - Motl, Robert W.
SP  - 153
EP  - 161
VL  - 40
IS  - 1
N2  - BACKGROUND: Falls are of great concern among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). <br><br>OBJECTIVE: To examine differences in metrics of mobility, postural control, and cognition in persons with MS with distinct fall risk status; and to investigate predictors of fall risk group membership using discriminant analysis. <br><br>METHODS: Forty-seven persons with MS completed the Activities-Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale and underwent a battery of assessments of mobility, balance, and cognition. Participants further wore an accelerometer for 7 days as an assessment of steps/day. Participants were allocated into fall risk groups based on ABC scale scores (increased fall risk (IFR); and normal fall risk (NFR)). We examined univariate differences between groups using ANOVA, and discriminant function analysis (DFA) identified the significant multivariate predictors of FR status. <br><br>RESULTS: After controlling for disability level, the IFR group had significantly (p < 0.05) worse scores in measures of mobility (i.e., MSWS-12, 6 MW, and steps/day) compared to the NFR group. DFA identified MSWS-12 and 6 MW scores as significant (p < 0.05) predictors of fall risk group membership. Those two variables collectively explained 55% of variance in fall risk grouping. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that mobility should be the focus of rehabilitation programs in persons with MS, especially for those at IFR.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1053-8135
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3233/NRE-161401
ID  - ref1
ER  -