Strength Training to Improve Gait in People With Multiple Sclerosis

This study will pilot a strengthening intervention targeted to muscles found to be important to gait in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Previous studies that have tried to strengthen leg and trunk muscles in people with MS have failed to improve walking ability consistently. The investigators think that is because strengthening exercises were not targeted to the correct muscle groups. For this study the investigators propose targeting muscle groups that they have found to be strong contributors to walking in a prior study. This is the first study to target these muscles, so the investigators propose doing a small trial to first evaluate the feasibility of the strength program and the outcomes. The investigators will measure strength and walking measures twice before and once after an 8-week strengthening intervention in a single group of 10 people with MS who are able to walk independently. The results of this study will help inform future, larger trials that could change the way strength training is conducted in people with MS.