Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
changes in these parameters after corrective surgery in children with spastic cerebral
palsy. Robain and his colleagues [
18
] conducted a study with the aim of analyzing
the path of the COP during gait using hemiplegic patients, also using an F-Scan
system (Teckscan, Inc., South Boston MA).
Another method to access postural stability is often made by clinical tests such
as the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) [
19
], however these instruments often fail to
detect minimal changes in postural stability in patients without visible changes,
or functional abnormalities. An evaluation that detect small disturbances before
the functional changes, allowing early intervention, preventing deterioration and
functional limitation. In this work, we perform a characterization of the center
of pressure in the standing position, and as much as possible a characterization
during the gait in individuals with multiple sclerosis. It is intended in addition, to
relate the characteristics of the COP with the results obtained by applying the Berg
Balance Scale. To date, few studies have been published on the application of plantar
pressure in the assessment of postural stability in individuals with MS.
2
Bibliographic Review
2.1
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system (CNS)
characterized by: immuno-inflammatory response, astrocytic gliosis and focal
demyelination of axons [
7
]. It is the most common neurological disease in young
adults between 18 and 50 years of age, and the peak of the first relapse occurs in
the third decade of life. It affects about two or three times more women than men,
being the major source of economic losses [
20
]. His prognosis is well known, 15
years after diagnosis 50% of patients using walking aids (crutches and walkers) and
29% a wheelchair [
21
,
22
]. During the first 10 years of evolution, from 50% to 80%
of patients stop working, however life expectancy is only slightly reduced [
23
]. The
exact etiology of MS remains unknown, but it is believed that neuro-degeneration is
secondary to an auto-immune mediation, however there is no precise explanation on
the induction of abnormal immune response towards the CNS [
24
]. Some authors
[
25
] consider that there is an agent associated with the onset of the disease. The
Epstein-Barr virus is a biologically plausible candidate, but this assumption is not
fully proven.
This disease also shows a latitudinal discrepancy, because it occurs more
frequently in temperate regions far from the equator [
2
]. The lesions can occur
anywhere in the CNS, but there are certain areas of predilection, such as the optic
nerve, the cerebellum and spinal cord [
26
].
