Treadmill-virtual reality combined training program to improve gait in multiple sclerosis individuals

Abstract

Gait disturbances are common in multiple sclerosis (MS) subjects. In particular, a non-physiological reduction of the walking speed and an increase of the gait variability is observed during a concurrent walking and cognitive challenge task. Virtual reality (VR) allows the delivery of challenging environments to train gait of MS individuals. This study aims to investigate the effects of two types of intensive treadmill-based interventions on gait of MS individuals. The two interventions share the same training protocol, except for the use of VR. Seventeen MS patients enrolled in the study were randomized in treadmill training (TT) group and treadmill training with VR (TT-VR) group. Assessments, performed before and immediately after the interventions, included gait analysis (single and dual-task conditions) and motor tests. Gait spatial-temporal parameters significantly improved in both groups. Ankle and hip kinetics improved in dual task only, for the TT-VR group. The preliminary results of this study suggest that TT-VR may significantly improve gait performance during complex conditions of MS individuals. The experimental research is still ongoing and more subjects will be recruited.