title: Effects of a virtual reality and treadmill training on gait of subjects with multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.
abstract: Gait and cognitive deficits are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and are negatively affected during dual-task walking. Treadmill (TM) training has been previously used to preserve locomotor activity in MS. Virtual reality (VR) engages the user in cognitive and motor activities simultaneously. A training combining TM and VR has been successfully adopted in several neurological diseases, but not in MS. This study aims at investigating the feasibility of a VR-based TM training program on gait of subjects with MS. Eight persons with relapsing-remitting MS were recruited to participate in a six-week VR-based TM training program. Gait analysis was performed both in single and dual task conditions. Clinical tests were used to assess walking endurance and obstacle negotiation. All the evaluations were performed before, immediately and one month after the training. Gait speed and stride length improved in dual task post-intervention and were retained at follow-up. An improved ability in negotiating obstacles was found across the evaluations. VR-based TM training program is feasible and safe for MS subjects with moderate disabilities and may positively affect gait under complex conditions, such as dual tasking and obstacle negotiation.
authors: Information Engineering Unit, POLCOMING Department, Sassari University, Viale Mancini 5, 07100 Sassari, Italy; Interuniversity Centre of Bioengineering of the Human Neuromusculoskeletal System, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: aperuzzi@uniss.it.
authors: Agnese
authors: A
authors: Peruzzi
authors: Information Engineering Unit, POLCOMING Department, Sassari University, Viale Mancini 5, 07100 Sassari, Italy; Interuniversity Centre of Bioengineering of the Human Neuromusculoskeletal System, Sassari, Italy.
authors: Andrea
authors: A
authors: Cereatti
authors: Information Engineering Unit, POLCOMING Department, Sassari University, Viale Mancini 5, 07100 Sassari, Italy; Interuniversity Centre of Bioengineering of the Human Neuromusculoskeletal System, Sassari, Italy.
authors: Ugo
authors: U
authors: Della Croce
authors: Department of Neurology, Laboratory for Gait Analysis & Neurodynamics, Movement Disorders Unit, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, 6 Weizmann Street, Tel Aviv, Israel; Sackler school of Medicine, Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors: Anat
authors: A
authors: Mirelman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000150:complications*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Dual task; Gait; Multiple sclerosis; Rehabilitation; Relapsing–remitting; Treadmill; Virtual reality