Clinical Study Is Walking Capacity in Subjects with Multiple Sclerosis Primarily Related to Muscle Oxidative Capacity or Maximal Muscle Strength? A Pilot Study

License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Background and Purpose. Walking capacity is reduced in subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS). To develop effective exercise interventions to enhance walking capacity, it is important to determine the impact of factors, modifiable by exercise intervention (maximal muscle strength versus muscle oxidative capacity), on walking capacity. The purpose of this pilot study is to discriminate between the impact ofmaximalmuscle strength versusmuscle oxidative capacity onwalking capacity in subjects withMS.Methods. From 24 patients withMS,muscle oxidative capacity was determined by calculation of exercise-onset oxygen uptake kinetics (mean response time) during submaximal exercise bouts.Maximalmuscle strength (isometric knee extension and flexion peak torque)was assessed on dynamometer. All subjects completed a 6-minute walking test. Relationships between walking capacity (as a percentage of normal value) andmuscle strength (of knee flexors and extensors) versus muscle oxidative capacity were assessed in multivariate regression analyses. Results. The expanded disability status score (EDSS) showed a significant univariate correlation