Rom J Morphol Embryol 2014, 55(4):1423–1428 ISSN (print) 1220–0522 ISSN (on-line) 2066–8279 ORIGINAL PAPER Analysis of neuromuscular parameters in patients with multiple sclerosis and gait disorders MARIUS CRISTIAN NEAMŢU 1) , LIGIA RUSU 2) , OANA MARIA NEAMŢU 2) , DENISA ENESCU BIERU 2) , MIHNEA ION MARIN 3) , ILEANA CRISTIANA CROITORU 4) , ADRIAN IOAN FRONIE 5) , DANIELA MANUC 6) , DĂNUŢ NICOLAE TARNIŢĂ 7) 1) Department of Pathologic Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania 2) Department of Sports Medicine and Kinesiology, University of Craiova, Romania 3) Department of Applied Mechanics, University of Craiova, Romania 4) Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania 5) Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania 6) Department of Public Health, “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania 7) Department of Anatomy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania Abstract Gait is a motor activity that requires understanding the dynamics and functional anatomical elements that make possible its cyclical conduct. Patients with multiple sclerosis record impaired balance and gait due to the process of demyelination, disorders that can be estimated by quantifying neuromuscular and cortical parameters. The aim of this paper is to present both an analysis of these parameters in the thigh muscles and an evaluation of cortical parameters obtained by visual evoked potentials (VEP). Patients and Methods: The study was conducted on a group of 13 patients (mean age 38 years) with multiple sclerosis (MS), who had clinically detectable gait disturbance. Evaluation methods used were tensiomyography (TMG) and VEP, the monitored parameters were: contraction time (Tc), stance time (Ts), displacement (Dm), if TMG in the two muscle groups of the thigh (biceps femoris and right femoris), and if VEP the assessed waves were N75, P100, N135-145. Results: There were estimated the average values of latency and duration of the three analyzed waves in VEP, the values of wave N135-145 were far higher than physiological values. In terms of TMG values, they results indicate the existence of a clear right–left functional asymmetry. Discussion and Conclusions: Analyzing these results, we note an increase in the muscular tone of the groups studied, a functional asymmetry agonist/antagonist, low speed response to stimulus. Regarding VEP wave parameters, we find significant variations of these waves’ latencies, particularly of P100 wave, while the duration of these waves did not register significant figures. In conclusion, we can emphasize a change in muscle structure with predominantly type I muscular fibers and inter-neuronal connections between areas of the association to substitute the lesions occurred in specific areas. Keywords: gait, visual evoked potentials, tensiomyography.  Introduction Locomotion assessment requires knowledge and understanding of locomotion dynamics and control mechanisms, aspects incompletely elucidated [1]. Gait is a cyclic locomotor movement, which is achieved by successively moving a leg before the other. One of the gait characteristics is the continual support of the body on the ground, either on foot or on both feet. Unilateral stance takes five times longer than bilateral stance: thus, within one hour we lean 50 minutes in a foot. During unilateral support, the lower limb, which supports the body weight, is called the stance member and the other lower limb is called the swing member [2]. During a gait cycle, there are two main phases: the stance phase and the swing phase. Simultaneous action of the two legs is carried out so as to share responsi- bility for the body weight support when both feet are in contact with the ground (namely, the body support is completed by both legs). In multiple sclerosis (MS), there are identified certain symptoms of motor disorders (spasticity secondary mus- cular cramps) affecting autonomous muscles (urinary, bowel, sexual dysfunctions); symptoms characteristic to spinal cord damage may also be present: decreased limb strength to paresis especially in lower limbs, mono-, hemi- and paraparesis, myoclonus, exaggerated tendon reflexes, presence of pathological reflexes – positive Babinski, lack of abdominal cutaneous reflexes, pyramid hypertonia, cerebellar symptoms (Charcot triad, consisting of dysarthria, ataxia, cerebellar tremor); gait disorders, dysmetria, nystagmus; incoordination, which can either lead to ataxia or occur only as “clumsy” movements, spastic-ataxic gait [3]. Disordered, dys-synergic gait is specific to MS and it is characterized either by unequal steps on a hypotonic or hypertonic background or asymmetric gait due to muscle fatigue and lack of motor control [4]. The purpose of this research is the assessment of correlations between parameters of neuromuscular muscle of the thigh and visual evoked potentials (VEP) in a group of MS patients presenting clinically detectable abnormal gait. R J M E Romanian Journal of Morphology & Embryology http://www.rjme.ro/