Effects of vision and arm position on amplitude of arm postural tremor in patients with multiple sclerosis.
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.
Feys
Peter
P
Department of Kinesiology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Faculteit Lichamelijke Opvoeding en Kinesitherapie, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium. Peter.Feys@flok.kuleuven.ac.be
Helsen
Werner F
WF
Liu
Xuguang
X
Lavrysen
Ann
A
Nuttin
Bart
B
Ketelaer
Piet
P
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*