Quantification of postural stability in minimally disabled multiple sclerosis patients by means of dynamic posturography: an observational study.
Lucia Grassi, Stefano Rossi, Valeria Studer and 6 others
PMID 28069073WHAT IT FOUND
A moving platform test found balance differences in minimally disabled MS patients, while quiet standing did not.
Patients swayed more front-to-back when the platform moved, even without clinical balance signs. This is an assessment finding, not proof of falls risk.
Key findings
01Quiet standing tests did not separate the MS group from healthy controls, but perturbed platform tests did.
02During the moving-platform test, the MS group had larger sway than controls, including more front-to-back displacement.
03MS patients with no clinical cerebellar impairment still differed from controls on the perturbed test.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study included only 17 patients with MS and 13 healthy controls, and the authors called the analysis exploratory without a prior power calculation or correction for multiple testing. Patients had mild disability and no history of recurrent falls, so the findings may not apply to more severely affected people or those already falling. Controls were younger than patients, which could have affected balance performance. The study enrolled patients with no history of recurrent accidental falls, so it does not describe people who fall.
Declared interests
The work was funded by the Italian Health Ministry and the Italian Ministry of University. The supplied text does not state author conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude this platform test is a validated clinical balance test or fall predictor. It was a small exploratory study of 17 minimally disabled MS patients and 13 controls, with no prior power calculation or correction for multiple testing, and the outcomes were laboratory balance measures in people with no history of recurrent falls.