ACCIDENTAL FALLS AND IMBALANCE IN MULTIPLE SCEROSIS: DIAGNOSTIC CHALLENGES, NEUROPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES, AND TREATMENT STRATEGIES

Lack of balance is common in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and is among the most disabling symptoms, since it reduces mobility and independence, leads to falls and injuries, and impacts upon overall quality of life. In this research we aimed to report the efforts made to: (i) establish an objective and reliable method to measure imbalance in MS by means of static posturography; (ii) estimate the role of this method in predicting patients at risk of falls; (iii) investigate the neuropathological features leading to imbalance in MS by combining static posturography and conventional / non-coventional magnetic resonance imaging; (iv) verify the effectiveness of visuo-proprioceptive rehabilitation in reducing balance deficit and risk of falls in these patients.