title: Gait Characteristics in Adolescents With Multiple Sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis is a progressive autoimmune disease of the central nervous system. A presentation of multiple sclerosis before age18 years has traditionally been thought to be rare. However, during the past decade, more cases have been reported.
  
  
  
  We examined gait characteristics in 24 adolescents with multiple sclerosis (12 girls, 12 boys). Mean disease duration was 20.4 (S.D. = 24.9) months and mean age was 15.5 (S.D. = 1.1) years. The mean expanded disability status scale score was 1.7 (S.D. = 0.7) indicating minimal disability. Outcomes were compared with gait and the gait variability index value of healthy age-matched adolescents.
  
  
  
  Adolescents with multiple sclerosis walked slower with a wider base of support compared with age-matched healthy control subjects. Moreover, the gait variability index was lower in the multiple sclerosis group compared with the values in the healthy adolescents: 85.4 (S.D. = 8.1) versus 96.5 (S.D. = 7.4).
  
  
  
  We present gait parameters of adolescents with multiple sclerosis. From a clinical standpoint, our data could improve management of walking dysfunction in this relatively young population.
authors.affiliation: Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physical Therapy, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. Electronic address: alkalron@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalron
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Lior
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frid
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Shay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Menascu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: adolescents; gait; juvenile; multiple sclerosis