Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Lengthening contractions during downslope walking have controversial findings as to whether they are beneficial or detrimental. Previous studies have used young adult, athlete, and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) populations, so it is possible the controversy is due to the population, either because of previous training experience or the composition of their central nervous system (CNS), or it is possibly due to the protocol. Downslope walking is mechanistically unique due to the eccentric contractions which induce different neural adaptations compared to uphill or level walking. Furthermore, individuals with MS have a compromised CNS due to demyelination, which could explain why some studies have found downslope walking helpful for this population but not for neuro-typical young adults and athletes. However clarification is needed on the effects, both short term and long term of downslope walking and whether the effects are dependent on the population. Thus the purpose of the current study is to assess the effectiveness of a 4-week downslope walking intervention performed bi-weekly for 30-minutes in 10 individuals with mild MS (age 18-55) and 10 young adults (age 18-24)on spinal excitability, gait initiation, and gait termination, and if these changes persist 4-weeks later. It is hypothesized that the intervention will lead to decreased spinal excitability and increased balance control, evident by measures of gait initiation and termination, in both populations. Acute changes in all 3 measures will be assessed following a single bout of downhill walking before the 4-week training program begins and once completed. The same 3 measures will be assessed 4-weeks following the completion of the intervention to look at persisting changes.