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Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes severe gait problems in relatively young individuals, yet there have been limited studies to quantitatively identify the specific gait parameters that are affected. The purpose of this study was to define any differences in biomechanical gait parameters between patients with MS and healthy controls. A total of 31 MS patients and 31 healthy controls were evaluated: joint torques and joint powers were calculated at the ankle, knee, and hip during the stance phase of gait. The self-selected walking velocity was used as a covariate in the analysis to ensure that group differences were not due to differences in walking velocity between the MS and healthy control groups. Reduced angular range, less joint torque, and reduced joint power were seen in patients with MS. We also found significant correlations between biomechanical gait parameters and EDSS score, which provides a clinical rating of disease severity. Our findings provide a quantitative assessment of the gait mechanics employed in patients with MS. The altered lower extremity mechanics observed in patients with MS reflect both a neurological and strength deficit compared with healthy controls during walking.

ApEn results revealed that the natural fluctuations present during gait in the stride length and step width time series are more regular and repeatable in patients with MS. These changes implied that patients with MS may exhibit reduced capacity to adapt and respond to perturbations during gait.

Background Cognitive impairment is a recognized consequence of heart failure; however, there are no neuropsychological batteries with documented psychometric data in the chronic heart failure population. Aims To document the psychometric properties of a brief neuropsychological battery in a chronic heart failure sample. Methods The Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status, Trail Making Test Part A and Part B, and letter fluency was administered to a sample of individuals with chronic heart failure. Results Eighty individuals with stable heart failure participated in this study. Individuals with chronic heart failure scored significantly lower than expected age and education adjusted norms in the domains of attention (p < 0.001), memory (p < 0.001), language (p < 0.001), executive function (p < 0.001), and psychomotor speed (p = 0.02). Scores on the tests of memory and executive function correlated to functional status (r = 0.28, p = 0.02 and r = 0.29, p = 0.03, respectively). Acceptable convergent validity and test–retest reliability were documented for this battery. Conclusion The neuropsychological battery had adequate reliability and validity in individuals with chronic heart failure.