Decreased postural balance in multiple sclerosis patients with low disability

To evaluate balance in women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have low disability and minimal clinical impairments as measured by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), and compare them with healthy age-matched controls. Patients were aged between 18 and 64 years; 67 individuals with MS (mu=44.0 +/- 1.2 years) and 45 healthy controls (mu=40.4 +/- 2.4 years). All patients had an EDSS score of 3.5 or below. Both the groups underwent a series of balance measures using the NeuroCom Balance Master. The mean EDSS for the MS group was 1.8. For balance, there was a significant difference between the two groups, with the MS group performing worse on the modified clinical test for sensory integration of balance measures standing on a foam surface with eyes closed (P < 0.01). A significant difference was also found for the unilateral stance with eyes closed and eyes open, and the tandem walk, with the MS group showing significantly more sway during those tests (P < 0.01). The MS group did significantly worse when compared with the healthy age-matched controls on the balance measures, indicating greater postural instability despite the low disability measured by EDSS.