Optical flow perturbations to detect preclinical walking balance impairment in people with multiple sclerosis

We tested whether optical flow perturbations in walking can detect preclinical balance impairment in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Compared to age-matched controls, PwMS had higher and more pervasive gait variability in the presence of perturbations. Thus, optical flow perturbations may detect balance deficits in PwMS that would go otherwise undetected.