Most people with MS (PwMS) experience significant gait asymmetries between the two legs leading to an increased risk of falls and musculoskeletal injury. The objective of this study is to investigate the neural mechanisms of gait adaptation and the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on adaptability during split-belt treadmill training in PwMS. Our hypothesis is that TENS will strengthen sensorimotor integration via amplified afferent signaling, thereby enhancing adaptation, and further improving gait symmetry chronically. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will be used during a split-belt treadmill training paradigm to assess cortical activation during gait adaptation. Additionally, the effect of split-belt treadmill training coupled with TENS on gait adaptability in PwMS will be tested with experimental and a sham TENS split-belt treadmill sessions. Cortical activation and the effect of TENS on gait adaptability will be compared between young neurotypical adults and PwMS to assess differences that can be attributed to multiple sclerosis.
