The Effect of Aquatic Exercise on Ground Reaction Forces during Gait of patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Poster Presentation
Paper ID : 1218-12THCONG
Oral / Poster Presentation File: 1218.jpg
Authors
Sport Medicine Research Center, Najafabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad, Iran
Abstract
According to previous studies, there is a lack of information about the kinetics aspects of gait in People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS). The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effects of aquatic exercise on ground reaction forces (GRFs) during gait in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) compared with normal human gait.
11 female patients with MS (EDSS>4) and a normal group (n=10 women) between 25-50 years of age participated in this study. A Qualisys motion analysis system with seven cameras and a Kistler force plate were used to measure six variables of GRFs during the gait. All PwMS participated in the exercise program (3 sessions per week for 2 months). All tests were repeated after exercise. ANCOVAs test were used for statistical analysis (P<0.05).
Vertical GRFs (GRFz2 or valley force and GRFz3 or second force peak) and the shear GRFs (breaking or GRFy1 and progressive or GRFy2 forces) were significantly lower in PwMS group compared to the normal group (P<0.001). The GRFz3 and GRFy2 had significant differences with the normal group after exercise (P<0.02). The aquatic exercise had significant improvement on GRF variables during gait except the vertical GRFz3 and the shear GRFy2 (P<0.01) of PwMS.
The vertical GRFz3 and the shear GRFy2 (push-off forces) decreased in PwMS, which led to a decrease in walking speed. These variables did not have significant improvement after exercise. The reduction in these variables may be due a neuromuscular adaptation to compensate balance deficit. Aquatic exercise may be used as a complement treatment alongside medical treatments for PwMS.
11 female patients with MS (EDSS>4) and a normal group (n=10 women) between 25-50 years of age participated in this study. A Qualisys motion analysis system with seven cameras and a Kistler force plate were used to measure six variables of GRFs during the gait. All PwMS participated in the exercise program (3 sessions per week for 2 months). All tests were repeated after exercise. ANCOVAs test were used for statistical analysis (P<0.05).
Vertical GRFs (GRFz2 or valley force and GRFz3 or second force peak) and the shear GRFs (breaking or GRFy1 and progressive or GRFy2 forces) were significantly lower in PwMS group compared to the normal group (P<0.001). The GRFz3 and GRFy2 had significant differences with the normal group after exercise (P<0.02). The aquatic exercise had significant improvement on GRF variables during gait except the vertical GRFz3 and the shear GRFy2 (P<0.01) of PwMS.
The vertical GRFz3 and the shear GRFy2 (push-off forces) decreased in PwMS, which led to a decrease in walking speed. These variables did not have significant improvement after exercise. The reduction in these variables may be due a neuromuscular adaptation to compensate balance deficit. Aquatic exercise may be used as a complement treatment alongside medical treatments for PwMS.
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