Validation of Hand Held Dynamometer for Assessment of Lower Limb Muscle Strength in Multiple Sclerosis

Purpose of this study is to assess the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of a
hand-held dynamometer (HHD) in the assessment of lower limb strength in patients with
Multiple Sclerosis.

Also to establish a standardized strength testing procedure for key lower limb muscle groups
using a HHD fo research and clinical purposes in Multiple Sclerosis.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Stable patients with clinically definite Multiple Sclerosis

- No Multiple Sclerosis exacerbation 30 days prior to screening

- No change in disease modifying therapy for 30 day prior to screening

Exclusion Criteria:

- Inflammatory myopathy

- Endocarditis, pericarditis o rother unstable heart disease

- Cardiac surgery or myocardial infarction in the last 3 months

- Decompensated congestive heart failure

- Severe aortic stenosis

- Severe pulmonary hypertension

- Pulmonary embolus or infarction in the last 6 months

- Uncontrolled hypertension by history or by screening or baseline diastolic blood
pressure >170 or systolic blood pressure >105

- Concomitant neurodegenerative neurological disease such as Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis (ALS) Parkinsons or hemiplegic stroke

- females who are pregnant

- Cognitive deficits that would interfere with the subjects's ability to give informed
consent or preform study testing

- Painful orthopedic condition affecting the lower limbs

- Any other serious and/or unstable medical condition