Glide-symmetric locomotion reinforcement in patients with multiple sclerosis by visual feedback

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the effects of gait training with distinct glide-symmetric visual feedback cues, adapted to the geometry of human locomotion, to the effects of training with visual cues of no distinct symmetry, on the walking abilities of subjects with gait disorders due to multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods: Ten patients trained with transverse lines while 11 patients trained with checkerboard tiles, both provided by a wearable virtual reality device. Baseline performance (walking speed and stride length along a 10 m straight track) was measured before device use. Following 20 min training with the device and 10 min rest, performance without the device was measured again and compared to the baseline performance.

Results: The average improvement in the group using the visual cue of transverse lines was 7.79% +/- 4.24% in walking speed and 7.20% +/- 3.92% in stride length. The average improvement in the group using the visual cue of checkerboard tiles was 21.09% +/- 18.39% in walking speed and 12.99% +/- 1.72% in stride length.

Conclusions: Patients with gait disorders due to MS, training with a glide-symmetric visual feedback cue, showed a significantly higher improvement in their gait parameters than patients training with a visual feedback cue of no without distinct symmetry.