Movement compensations during a step ascent task are associated with stair climbing performance in people with multiple sclerosis.
Paul W Kline, Cory L Christiansen, Emily R Hager and 2 others
PMID 33878510WHAT IT FOUND
People with MS who sway their pelvis more during a single step climb take longer to ascend a full flight of stairs.
This links movement compensation directly to functional performance, suggesting balance and proximal control training may be key targets.
Key findings
01Greater sagittal and frontal pelvis excursions during a step ascent task were significant predictors of slower stair climbing times in people with MS.
02People with MS demonstrated greater trunk and pelvis motion and lower ankle push-off strength compared to healthy controls during a step ascent task.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that the movement compensations cause the poor stair performance, only that they are associated. The single step task used a step-to pattern, which may not perfectly reflect the step-over-step pattern used when climbing a full flight of stairs. The sample size was relatively small (20 people with MS), which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that leg strength is the primary driver of stair climbing difficulty in MS. This study found that pelvic sway was a stronger predictor of stair climbing speed than ankle strength, suggesting that balance and proximal control are critical factors.