title: Analysis of neuromuscular parameters in patients with multiple sclerosis and gait disorders.
abstract: Gait is a motor activity that requires understanding the dynamics and functional anatomical elements that make possible its cyclical conduct. Patients with multiple sclerosis record impaired balance and gait due to the process of demyelination, disorders that can be estimated by quantifying neuromuscular and cortical parameters. The aim of this paper is to present both an analysis of these parameters in the thigh muscles and an evaluation of cortical parameters obtained by visual evoked potentials (VEP).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on a group of 13 patients (mean age 38 years) with multiple sclerosis (MS), who had clinically detectable gait disturbance. Evaluation methods used were tensiomyography (TMG) and VEP, the monitored parameters were: contraction time (Tc), stance time (Ts), displacement (Dm), if TMG in the two muscle groups of the thigh (biceps femoris and right femoris), and if VEP the assessed waves were N75, P100, N135-145.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were estimated the average values of latency and duration of the three analyzed waves in VEP, the values of wave N135-145 were far higher than physiological values. In terms of TMG values, they results indicate the existence of a clear right-left functional asymmetry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Analyzing these results, we note an increase in the muscular tone of the groups studied, a functional asymmetry agonist/antagonist, low speed response to stimulus. Regarding VEP wave parameters, we find significant variations of these waves' latencies, particularly of P100 wave, while the duration of these waves did not register significant figures. In conclusion, we can emphasize a change in muscle structure with predominantly type I muscular fibers and inter-neuronal connections between areas of the association to substitute the lesions occurred in specific areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathologic Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania; drcristianneamtu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Marius Cristian
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Neamţu
authors.forename: Ligia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rusu
authors.forename: Oana Maria
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Neamţu
authors.forename: Denisa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Enescu Bieru
authors.forename: Mihnea Ion
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Marin
authors.forename: Ileana Cristiana
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Croitoru
authors.forename: Adrian Ioan
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Fronie
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Manuc
authors.forename: Dănuţ Nicolae
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Tarniţă
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors