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Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVE, METHODS, METHODS, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Accidental Falls, Adult, Case-Control Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Fear, Female, Gait Disorders, Neurologic, Humans, Israel, Male, Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting, Postural Balance, Sensation Disorders, Spatio-Temporal Analysis, Walking.
user
Is concern about falling associated with step length in persons with multiple sclerosis? Context: Fear of falling is one of the major concerns of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Although, it is likely that associations between spatio-temporal gait parameters and fear of falling exist in the MS population, these relationships have never been extensively studied. Aim of the study was to determine if fear of falling is associated with spatio-temporal gait parameters in persons with MS. Cross sectional study with a control group. Multiple Sclerosis Center, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel. One-hundred and thirty relapsing-remitting patients diagnosed with MS, 79 women and 51 men aged 42.6 (SD=11.9), participated in this investigation. Twenty-five healthy subjects, 14 women and 11 men aged 38.5 (SD= 12.3), served as controls. Spatio-temporal parameters of gait were studied using the GAITRiteTM system (CIR Systems Inc., NJ, USA); Falls Efficacy Scale International (FES-I) was used to assess the level of concern relating to falls. Participants who scored >20 were classified as more concerned (N.=83), while those scoring ≤20 were defined as less concerned (N.=47). More concerned participants walked slower, took smaller steps, prolonged double support phase, wider base of support and a shorter single support phase compared to the less concerned group. According to step one of the multiple linear regression model, the spatial gait component accounted for 30.9% of the variance related to fear of falls (F=56.3, P<0.001). Step two added the gait temporal component, thus increasing the variance to 36.7% (F=36.2, P<0.001). Step three added the gait asymmetry parameters, thus increasing the predictor model to account for 40.3% of the variance in fear of falling (F=29.6, P<0.001).
assistant
The present study provides quantitative evidence establishing spatio-temporal gait performance in individuals with MS relative to the level of fear of falling. Final Decision: yes