Subclinical knee extensor weakness predicts gait and balance impairment in degenerative cervical myelopathy.

ABSTRACT: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is a leading cause of non-traumatic spinal cord disorders in older adults. Gait instability and balance dysfunction are common in DCM, even in the absence of clinically evident lower limb weakness. We hypothesized that subclinical weakness, measured through maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) of the knee extensors and ankle plantar flexors, is associated with impaired gait and balance in individuals with DCM. Pre-surgical DCM participants with symptoms of DCM and MRI evidence of cervical spinal cord compression were prospectively enrolled in this observational study. Knee extensor and ankle plantar flexor MVICs of the self-reported most-affected leg were measured using a Biodex system. Berg Balance Scale (BBS) scores, gait speed and spati

SUBMITTER: Raju VB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12638548 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature