title: Core muscle characteristics during walking of patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate core muscle characteristics during walking in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Eight patients (4 men) with relapsing-remitting MS (aged 44.9 +/- 8.6 yr) and sex-matched controls (37.9 +/- 8.4 yr) walked on a treadmill for 15 min at a self-selected speed. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography imaging was used to measure core muscle activity immediately after walking based on glucose uptake. Activity was not different between the MS and control group for any of the identified muscles (p > 0.28). Within the MS group, side differences in activity were identified in the lateral flexor group, the external and internal obliques, and the rectus abdominis (p < 0.05), with the less-affected side being activated more. Furthermore, greater muscle volume was found on the more-affected side of the transversus abdominis, quadratus lumborum, and the low-back extensor group (p < 0.03). These muscle characteristics suggest patients with MS utilize compensatory mechanisms during walking to maintain balance and posture. These strategies likely result in increased muscle energy cost and early fatigability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Exercise Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO;
authors.forename: Nathaniel B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Ketelhut
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kindred
authors.forename: Mark M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Manago
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hebert
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rudroff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D064847:Multimodal Imaging; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D017568:Rectus Abdominis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D019788:Fluorodeoxyglucose F18; D005947:Glucose
keywords: autoimmune disease; balance; computed tomography; disability; glucose uptake heterogeneity; muscle activation; muscle activity; muscle volume; positron emission tomography; stability; trunk