Perceived Exertion Is Lower When Using a Functional Electrical Stimulation Neuroprosthesis Compared With an Ankle-Foot Orthosis in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: A Preliminary Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the direct comparison of energy cost, efficiency, and effort between an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO) and a functional electrical stimulation (FES) device for foot drop in ambulatory patients with multiple sclerosis. DESIGN: Twenty adults (32-74 years old; 55% female) with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis resulting in foot drop participated in a crossover, counterbalanced preliminary study. Each participant was tested on different days, with each session consisting of a separate walk trial per prosthetic device. Heart rate, oxygen consumption, speed, distance, and self-reported exertion were measured independently for each device walk trial. Repeated-measures analysis of variance with device and visit number as within-participants independent variables were run for the primary outcome variables of perceived exertion, energy, and metabolic efficiency. RESULTS: A significant main effect of device was found for perceived exertion (P = 0.01), with participants reporting decreased exertion levels (Borg Scale) when using the FES compared with the AFO (mean difference, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.49-2.76). Energy and efficiency did not significantly differ by device. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that further investigation of the potential advantages of FES devices over traditional AFO is warranted. TO CLAIM CME CREDITS: Complete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME CME OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: (1) describe the potential differences between an AFO and FES for the treatment of foot drop in patients with multiple sclerosis, (2) understand the mechanisms and prevalence of foot drop in patients with multiple sclerosis, and (3) recognize the potential benefit of improved perceived exertion found when using FES for the treatment of foot drop in patients with multiple sclerosis. LEVEL: Advanced ACCREDITATION: The Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Spasticity and the use of intrathecal baclofen in patients with spinal cord injury.

Muscle spasms and spasticity constitute a significant problem in patients with spinal cord injury, interfering with rehabilitation and leading to impairments in quality of life in addition to medical complications. Administration of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) is indicated when spasticity continues to produce a clinical disability despite trials of oral treatments and other alternatives in patients who have functional goals and/or pain without contractures. Severe spasticity of spinal origin has been shown to respond dramatically to long-term ITB when used in appropriate patients with spasticity.

The prevalence of overweight and obesity in veterans with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence and factors associated with overweight and obesity in veterans with multiple sclerosis (MS) enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration (VA) and to compare the prevalence in this group with gender-specific published rates for the general population of veterans receiving outpatient care at VA medical facilities. DESIGN: Cross-sectional cohort study linking electronic medical record information to mailed survey from 1999 to 2004. A total of 4703 veterans with MS enrolled in VA who returned questionnaires as part of two cross-sectional studies. Main outcome measures included body mass index, demographic information, Veteran RAND 36-item Health Survey, frequency of physical exercise, and other health conditions. RESULTS: Overall, 28% of female and 42.8% of male veterans with MS were overweight. Another 25% of women and 21.2% of male veterans met the criteria for obesity. Compared with a historical cohort of veterans enrolled in the VA, veterans with MS had a slightly higher adjusted prevalence of overweight than did veterans in general (42.3% vs. 39.6%, respectively) but a lower adjusted prevalence of obesity (20.1% vs. 33.1%). In adjusted logistic regression, age, smoking, and lower levels of pain were associated with a lower likelihood of overweight or obesity. Being male, married, employed and having arthritis and diabetes were associated with a greater likelihood of overweight or obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight and obesity are a problem for more than 60% of veterans with MS in the VA. Screening for overweight and obesity should be done routinely. Interventions to prevent and manage excessive weight in individuals with MS should be developed and evaluated.

Body mass index measures in children with cerebral palsy related to gross motor function classification: a clinic-based study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of overweight in a clinic-based population of children with cerebral palsy (CP) and its association with gross motor function status. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. We calculated body mass index (BMI; kg/m2) from charted height and weight and recorded Gross Motor Function Classification Scale (GMFCS levels I-V) on the basis of clinical descriptions in clinic notes for 137 children (2-18 yrs old) with CP seen in a pediatric rehabilitation clinic at an academic medical center. BMI percentiles were reported according to sex-specific age group standards for growth set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Associations were modeled by Pearson's chi2 distribution. RESULTS: Out of the total CP subject group, 29.1% were considered overweight (>95th percentile) or at risk for overweight (85th to 95th percentile). Ambulatory children (GMFCS levels I and II) showed a trend (Pearson's chi2, P = 0.06) toward higher prevalence of overweight (22.7%) compared with nonambulatory children (levels IV and V, 9.6%). Underweight was more prevalent in nonambulatory children (P < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis did not identify any significant predictors for overweight. CONCLUSIONS: In our patient population, analysis of BMI suggests that children with CP have a high rate of overweight and are at risk of overweight, particularly among ambulatory children. More study is needed, using measures more accurate than BMI, to clarify risk.