title: Walking and thinking in persons with multiple sclerosis who vary in disability.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effect of a cognitive task on spatiotemporal parameters of gait in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) with varying disability.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  Testing occurred at a local hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-living persons (N=78) with MS participated in this investigation. They were divided into 3 groups based on Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores: mild (2.0-3.5 EDSS; n=21); moderate (4.0-5.5 EDSS; n=25); and severe (6.0-6.5 EDSS; n=32).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants walked at a self-selected pace on an electronic pathway, which recorded spatiotemporal parameters of gait, in 4 separate trials and completed a cognitive task in the last 2 trials. The effect of the cognitive task was quantified as the change in spatiotemporal parameters of gait.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an overall decline in gait with the additive cognitive task. The magnitude of the adverse changes ranged from 1.8% for step length (P=.02) to 12% for gait velocity (P<.001). Moreover, adverse changes in gait function were greatest in the severe and moderate disability group (P<.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Persons with MS have impaired walking while doing a cognitive task, and the adverse effect of a cognitive task on walking function is greatest in persons with severe and moderate disability. Difficulty walking while thinking has implications for everyday life and may be related to the risk of falls. Further work is needed to determine whether the adverse effect of an additive cognitive task can be minimized with rehabilitative interventions.
authors: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 61801, USA. jsosnoff@uiuc.edu
authors: Jacob J
authors: JJ
authors: Sosnoff
authors: Morgan K
authors: MK
authors: Boes
authors: Brian M
authors: BM
authors: Sandroff
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Socie
authors: John H
authors: JH
authors: Pula
authors: Robert W
authors: RW
authors: Motl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013850:Thinking; D016138:Walking