Associations between muscle strength, gait impairments and falls in people with multiple sclerosis

• Grant number: 25/10077-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 25, 2025
• End date: November 24, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Preventive Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Hotta Ansai
• Grantee: Caroline Barbalho Lamas
• Supervisor: Stephen Ronald Lord
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of New South Wales (UNSW), Australia
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/23475-9 - SYSTEMATIC REVIEW TO IDENTIFY MODIFIABLE RISK FACTORS IN OLDER ADULTS AT HIGH RISK OF FALLING, BP.IC

Abstract

Introduction: One of the most common symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis is muscle weakness. Although some studies have examined asymmetries in lower limb muscle strength and their relationship to gait and falls, no study has investigated asymmetries across all major gait-related muscle groups and associations with impaired gait and falls in people with multiple sclerosis across different levels of disability. Objectives: to characterise the patterns of weakness in major lower limb muscle groups, gait impairment and falls in people with multiple sclerosis with different level of disability, and to investigate the associations between weakness in major lower limb muscle groups, impaired gait and falls. Methods: A cross-sectional study will be conducted among people with multiple sclerosis, aged 18 to 85 years, recruited from an outpatient rehabilitation centre and clinics in Sydney. Isometric maximal voluntary contracts of eight lower limb muscle groups, the multiple sclerosis walking scale and history of falls in the past year will be used to evaluate muscle strength, gait impairment and falls. Expected results: We expect to demonstrate the patterns of muscle weakness, gait impairment and falls in people with multiple sclerosis with different level of disability and to find associations between muscle weakness, impaired gait and falls. (AU)