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Background:

Fatigue, lower limb weakness and poor balance can significantly limit safe mobility in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Further research is required to elucidate relationships among these factors.

Objective:

To investigate the effect of walking-induced fatigue on lower limb strength and postural sway in people with moderately disabling MS.

Methods:

Thirty-four people (26 female) with moderate MS (mean Expanded Disability Status Scale of 3.7±0.7) underwent assessments of acute fatigue, postural sway and lower limb strength before and after six-minute conditions of seated rest and walking. A matched sample of 10 healthy controls also undertook identical assessments before and after a six-minute walk.

Results:

Significant time by condition effects for all assessment measures indicated the six-minute walk induced fatigue with associated increases in postural sway and reductions in lower limb strength …