Postural Control Complexity and Fatigue in Minimally Affected Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

This study investigated changes in postural control complexity in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) before and after a fatigue protocol. Thirteen minimally affected PwMS (1.53 ± 1.03- Expanded Disability Status Scale) and 12 non-MS controls. Postural test included quiet stance on a force platform under two visual conditions (saccades and fixation) before and after a fatigue protocol. Postural complexity was assessed through the multiscale entropy. A three-way ANOVA showed a main effect of fatigue in the medial-lateral direction (p <0.007), with fatigue protocol reducing postural complexity in both groups. No differences were found between groups or visual conditions. Minimally affected PwMS demonstrated similar postural complexity compared with non-MS controls under both visual tasks and showed similar decrements in postural complexity as a result of fatigue.

Keywords:

• Multiple sclerosis
• multiscale entropy
• postural control
• fatigue

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by São Paulo Research Fundation [grant #2017/20166-1 and #2017/00718-0], São Paulo, Brazil and financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001.