Relationship of shoulder position sense with trunk control, balance, and walking speed in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Aims:This study examined the relationship between altered shoulder joint position sense (JPS) and trunk control, balance, and walking speed in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods:This case-control study included patients with MS and healthy controls. A digital inclinometer was used to determine shoulder JPS. Balance was measured using the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and single-leg stance (SLS) test, trunk control using the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), and walking speed using the 10 meter walk test (10 mWT).Results:The study included 40 MS patients (mean age: 44.68±8.71 years, 75% were females) and 40 healthy control subjects (mean age: 43.56±9.91 years, 65% were females). The BBS and SLS scores were significantly lower and the 10 mWT time was longer in the patients compared with the controls (p<0.001). The planar and total JPS scores (error rates) for both sides were higher in the MS group (p<0.001). Negative correlations were observed in the MS group between the total JPS score and the BBS, SLS, and total TIS score (r=-0.770, r=-0.619, r=-0.665; respectively) (p<0.001), and a positive correlation was observed between the total JPS score and the 10 mWT (r=0.456, p=0.003) at the dominant side. Total JPS score correlated with BBS, SLS and 10 mWT (r=-0.658, r=-0.522, r=0.531, respectively) (p<0.001) at the non-dominant side.Conclusions:This study showed that decreased shoulder JPS relates to impaired trunk control, balance, and walking speed in MS patients.

Keywords

• shoulder position sense
• balance
• trunk control
• walking speed