title: A disturbed processing of graviceptive pathways may be involved in the pathophysiology of balance disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between perception of verticality and balance disorders in multiple sclerosis patients. We evaluated patients and healthy controls. Patients were divided into two groups according to their risk of fall, with or without risk of fall, measured by a Dynamic Gait Index scale. Graviceptive perception was assessed using the subjective visual vertical test. Patients with risk of fall showed worse perception than those without risk of fall, p < 0.001. Misperception of verticality was correlated with the dynamic gait index scores (p < 0.001), suggesting that the larger the error for verticality judgment, the greater risk for falling. Considering that the perception of verticality is essential for postural control, our results suggested that the disturbed processing of graviceptive pathways may be involved in the pathophysiology of balance disorders in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Neurologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna Antinori Vignola
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: da Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiana Borges
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Frederico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jorge
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Simm
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Apostolos-Pereira
authors.affiliation: Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Dagoberto
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Callegaro
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D018466:Gravity Sensing / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*