title: Assessment of postural stabilization in three task oriented movements in people with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In accordance with the Task Oriented Approach, clinicians need assessment procedures providing information on the execution of multiple tasks. Instrumented task assessment can add information regarding sensory-motor strategies, difficult to assess purely by clinical observation. It has been shown that People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) have difficulties in maintaining upright balance, but little is known about their ability to achieve a stable posture after the execution of tasks related to activities of daily living. The aim of the present study was to assess postural stabilization in a population of PwMS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty Healthy Subjects (HS) and twenty PwMS were assessed in three tasks leading to a quiet erect posture: sit-to-stand, taking a step forward, bending forward. Antero-posterior ground reaction force was measured by a force platform and interpolated by a model providing information on the initial instability after task execution (Transitional_Sway), the time required to dissipate this initial instability (Stabilization_Time), and their stability in quiet upright posture (Static_Sway).
  
  
  RESULTS
  PwMS had statistically significant altered performance in comparison to HS: their instability after task execution (Transitional_Sway) was higher in bending and sit-to-stand (p < 0.05), their stabilization time (Stabilization_Time) was longer in bending and step forward (p < 0.05). Static_Sway was higher in all tasks (p < 0.05) indicating imbalance also in quiet upright posture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurorehabilitation, LaRiCE: Gait and Balance Disorders Laboratory, Don Gnocchi Foundation I.R.C.C.S.V. , Capecelatro, Milano , Italy and.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cattaneo
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabuffetti
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bovi
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mevio
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jonsdottir
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferrarin
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Balance; disability; rehabilitation; upright posture