Validity of the Instrumented Push and Release Test to Quantify Postural Responses in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis.
Mahmoud El-Gohary, Daniel Peterson, Geetanjali Gera and 2 others
PMID 28279660WHAT IT FOUND
Wireless sensors on the lower back and feet closely matched laboratory motion capture and force plate measurements during Push and Release balance steps in people with MS and healthy controls.
People with MS needed more steps and longer time to regain stability.
Key findings
01The wireless sensor version of the Push and Release Test measured step timing and stability events that agreed with laboratory reference measures.
02People with MS took longer to reach stability and needed more steps than healthy controls, while step latency, first heel strike time and step length did not differ.
03Within people with MS, sensor measures of latency, time to reach stability and first heel strike were significantly correlated with clinical scores.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The supplied text does not state the final number of participants or the group sizes, so the strength of the agreement findings cannot be judged. People with MS had to be able to walk 25 feet without an assistive device or brace, so the findings may not apply to people with more severe mobility loss. Reliable calibration of the examiner's push is a practical challenge, and the study used experienced examiners without real-time trunk angle feedback. The study compared sensor measurements with laboratory measurements, not with falls, future disability or treatment change.
Declared interests
Dr. Horak and OHSU have significant financial interests in APDM, a company that might have a commercial interest in the results, and Dr. El-Gohary works at APDM. OHSU and the Integrity Oversight Council reviewed and managed this potential conflict.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the instrumented Push and Release Test is a validated clinical outcome measure for MS balance. It was checked against laboratory equipment, not against falls or treatment response, and the supplied text does not report the final sample size.