Gait and balance measures have particular potential as outcome measures in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) because, of the many hallmarks of MS disability, gait and balance dysfunction are present throughout the course of the disease, impact many aspects of a person’s life, and progress over time. To highlight the importance and relevance of gait and balance measures in MS, explore novel measurements of gait and balance in MS, and discuss how gait, balance, and fall measures can best be used and developed in clinical and research settings, the 1st International Symposium on Gait and Balance in Multiple Sclerosis was held in Portland, Oregon, USA on October 1, 2011. This meeting brought together nearly 100 neurologists, physiatrists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, engineers, and others to discuss the current status and recent advances in the measurement of gait and balance in MS. Presentations focused on clinician-administered, self-administered, and instrumented measures of gait, balance, and falls in MS. 1. Statement of Need In the last 30 years, we have made great strides in the treatment of MS. We have developed and brought to market seven disease-modifying medications to reduce the frequency of MS relapses and slow the accumulation of irreversible disability, and many therapies are available to control MS-related symptoms. However, none of these interventions cures MS or halts its progression. One of the significant challenges for developing new and better therapies for MS is that current measures, including the neurological examination, the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite (MSFC), MRI measures, and relapse rates, have limited ability to capture between-relapse and ongoing disease progression in the absence of relapses. As Dennis Bourdette, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Neurology at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) said, “what we need [in MS] are measures that are quick, easy, accurate, and sensitive to change—both worsening and improvement—and are understandable [to clinicians]…gait and balance measures have the potential to meet these requirements.” He emphasized the need for communication between neurologists and others caring for people with MS and conducting clinical trials and nonneurologists engaged in developing and testing measures of gait and balance. 2. Clinician-Administered Measures Clinician-administered measures of gait and balance are the measures most commonly used in clinical practice. These measures are generally inexpensive and easy to administer,
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