van der Linden, MariettaScott, S. M.Hooper, JulieCowan, P.Mercer, Tom2018-06-292018-06-292014-04van der Linden, M., Scott, S., Hooper, J., Cowan, P. & Mercer, T. (2014-04) Gait kinematics of people with Multiple Sclerosis and the acute application of Functional Electrical Stimulation, Gait & Posture, vol. 39, pp. 1092-1096.9666362http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gaitpost.2014.01.016https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/3384Part of this study was funded through a PhD studentship (SM Scott) grant from the UK MS Society ( #873/07 ). TH Mercer was principal applicant and ML van der Linden, JE Hooper and P Cowan were co-applicants. The funder did not have any involvement in the study Page 2 of 23 Accepted Manuscript 2 design, in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; and in the decision to submit the manuscript for publicationThis study aimed to (i) compare the gait characteristics of people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) to those of healthy controls walking at the same average speed, and (ii) assess the effects of the acute application of Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) to the dorsiflexors. Twenty-two people with pwMS (mean age 49 years), prescribed FES, and 11 age matched healthy controls participated. Three dimensional gait kinematics were assessed whilst (i) pwMS and healthy controls walked at self-selected speeds (ssws), (ii) Healthy controls also walked at the average walking speed of the pwMS group, and (iii) people with MS walked using FES. Compared to healthy controls walking at their ssws, pwMS walked slower and showed differences in nearly all gait characteristics (p<0.001). Compared to healthy controls walking at the same average speed, pwMS still exhibited significantly shorter stride length (p=0.007), reduced dorsiflexion at initial contact (p=0.002), reduced plantar flexion at terminal stance (p=0.008) and reduced knee flexion in swing (p=0.002). However, no significant differences were seen between groups in double support duration (p=0.617), or hip range of motion (p=0.291). Acute application of FES resulted in a shift towards more normal gait characteristics, except for plantar flexion at terminal stance which decreased. In conclusion, compared to healthy controls, pwMS exhibit impairment of several gait characteristics that appear to be independent of the slower walking speed of pwMS. The acute application of FES improved most impaired gait kinematics. A speed matched control group is warranted in future studies of gait kinematics of pwMS.1092-1096Multiple Sclerosiswalking speed3D gait analysisFunctional Electrical Stimulationarticle