SENSORY ORGANIZATION APPEARS COMPROMISED IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Authors

G Cantrell
D Lantis
D Larson
M Bemben
C Black
R Larson

Abstract

Gregory Cantrell¹, David Lantis², Daniel Larson³, Michael Bemben³, Chris Black³ and Rebecca Larson³

¹Arkansas State University, Jonsboro, AR

²Valporaiso University, Valporaiso, IN

³University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediate disease of the central nervous system that affects several body systems. One recognized clinical concern associated with MS is postural control, which appears to be jeopardized. The sensory organization test (SOT) is an easy way to assess postural control. Yet, while the SOT is a common clinical assessment, not much data is available on SOT performance in people with MS. Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to compare Sensory Organization performance between people with MS and non-MS controls. Methods: Sixteen volunteers (MS: 8; EDSS: 3.42.2; Age: 49.911.1 years; non-MS Age: 48.611.2 years) participated in the study by completing one session of sensory organization testing to measure their ability to maintain postural control during six conditions, which consisted of eyes open (EO) on and eyes closed (EC) on a fixed surface, EO with sway-referenced visual surround, EO with sway-referenced support surface, EC on sway referenced support surface, and EO on sway referenced support surface and surround. Each condition is scored based on the average center of pressure sway and reported as an equilibrium score (ES). Results: MS participants recorded significantly lower equilibrium scores for all conditions (C1, MS: 93.13.1 vs. non-MS: 96.01.5, p=0.035; C3, MS: 86.74.9 vs. non-MS: 92.63.9, p=0.018; C4, MS: 85.54.0 vs. non-MS: 91.12.0, p=0.003; C5, 70.05.0 vs. non-MS: 76.35.7, p=0.024; C6, MS: 72.07.0 vs. non-MS: 80.65.1, p=0.014; Composite Score, MS: 80.44.0 vs. non-MS: 86.02.9, p=0.008) except condition two (i.e., EC-fixed support, p=0.206). Conclusion: MS appears to compromise accurate organization of sensory input assessed during quiet stance. Interestingly, when our sample of MS participants closed their eyes, they were able to rely to on the combination of vestibular and somatosensory input to a similar extent as our non-MS participants.

Recommended Citation

Cantrell, G; Lantis, D; Larson, D; Bemben, M; Black, C; and Larson, R (2023) "SENSORY ORGANIZATION APPEARS COMPROMISED IN PEOPLE WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 11: Iss. 10, Article 22.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol11/iss10/22