Motor Learning of Fall Resistant Skills Through Slip and Trip Exposure in Multiple Sclerosis

The primary purpose of this interventional study is to examine the overall motor learning capacity from exposure to repeated perturbations among ambulatory people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This project will advance our understanding of learning new motor skills from exposure to external perturbations. If it is proven that people with MS can learn motor skills from perturbation training, the findings from this study will pave a theoretical foundation for applying perturbation training as a promising fall prevention intervention for people with MS.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Clinically confirmed multiple sclerosis 2. At least 45 years old 3. Able to walk independently at least 25 feet 4. Able to stand independently for at least 30 seconds 5. Patient Determined Disability Steps score between 0 and 4 6. Free from pregnancy 7. Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of 23 or higher Exclusion Criteria: 1. Previous experience with perturbation training 2. T-score from the dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan of less than -2.5 3. Coexisting psychiatric disorders or other neurological conditions, severe medical illness, or cardiovascular diseases 4. Participants have had a relapse in the past 8 weeks