title: Effects of vision and arm position on amplitude of arm postural tremor in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify the effects of vision and arm position on arm postural tremor, comparisons were made between flexed and extended arm positions performed with the eyes open and closed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  National multiple sclerosis (MS) center in Belgium.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen patients (32 arms) with MS who had intention tremor and 16 healthy controls (32 arms).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  The amplitude of postural tremor was assessed by a magnetic position sensor attached to the index finger.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amplitude of postural tremor was not influenced by changes in visual condition or different arm positions. Both healthy controls and MS patients made more directional changes in the flexed, compared with the extended arm position.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The amplitude of the arm postural tremor in MS is independent of vision and arm position. Selecting 1 arm position is sufficient to assess postural tremor amplitude.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Faculteit Lichamelijke Opvoeding en Kinesitherapie, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium. Peter.Feys@flok.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Feys
authors.forename: Werner F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Helsen
authors.forename: Xuguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lavrysen
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nuttin
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ketelaer
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D014202:Tremor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*