title: Association of Postural Sway with Disability Status and Cerebellar Dysfunction in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Preliminary Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this study were 1) to examine postural sway in the eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) conditions in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) with moderate levels of disability compared with controls and 2) to examine relationships between postural sway and total Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores, functional system subscores, and clinical measures of strength and spasticity in the MS group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four people with moderate MS and ten matched controls completed measures of postural sway with EO and EC, knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion isometric strength, EDSS total score and subscores, and spasticity levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants with MS swayed significantly more with EO and EC and had reduced knee extension and ankle dorsiflexion strength compared with controls (P < .001). In the MS group, increased sway was associated with higher total EDSS scores and cerebellar function subscores, whereas increased sway ratio (EC/EO) was associated with reduced sensory function subscores. Postural sway was not significantly associated with strength or spasticity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants with MS swayed more and were significantly weaker than controls. Cerebellar dysfunction was identified as the EDSS domain most strongly associated with increased sway, and sensory loss was associated with a relatively greater dependence on vision for balance control. These findings suggest that exercise interventions targeting sensory integration and cerebellar ataxia may be beneficial for enhancing balance control in people with MS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Aged and Extended Care, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (JM, CB, MC); and Neuroscience Research Australia (SRL, DLS) and School of Public Health and Community Medicine (JM, SRL, DLS), University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McLoughlin
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Aged and Extended Care, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (JM, CB, MC); and Neuroscience Research Australia (SRL, DLS) and School of Public Health and Community Medicine (JM, SRL, DLS), University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Aged and Extended Care, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (JM, CB, MC); and Neuroscience Research Australia (SRL, DLS) and School of Public Health and Community Medicine (JM, SRL, DLS), University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crotty
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Aged and Extended Care, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (JM, CB, MC); and Neuroscience Research Australia (SRL, DLS) and School of Public Health and Community Medicine (JM, SRL, DLS), University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Aged and Extended Care, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (JM, CB, MC); and Neuroscience Research Australia (SRL, DLS) and School of Public Health and Community Medicine (JM, SRL, DLS), University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Daina L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Sturnieks