Article

Appropriate regulation of grip force is essential in performance of
various activities of daily living such as drinking, eating, buttoning a shirt,
and so on. The extent to which individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) are able
to regulate grip forces while performing elements of the activities of daily
living is largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: . To investigate how individuals with MS
control grip force during performance of functional tasks. METHODS: . This study
evaluated the grip force control in selected individuals with MS (n = 9) and
healthy control subjects (n = 9) while they performed the task of lifting and
placing an instrumented object on a shelf and the task of lifting the object and
bringing it close to the mouth to mimic drinking. The grip forces, object
acceleration, force ratio, and time lag were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: .
The individuals with MS used significantly larger peak grip force and force ratio
than control subjects while performing both tasks and for both hands. In
addition, the time lag between the peaks of grip and load forces was
significantly longer in individuals with MS. CONCLUSION: . The application of
excessive grip force could predispose individuals with MS to additional fatigue
and musculoskeletal overuse trauma. Rehabilitation protocols for the MS
population may need to account for increased levels of grip force applied during
the performance of functional tasks.

Langue : ANGLAIS