Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12) for the Brazilian population Adaptação transcultural e validação da 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12) para a população brasileira

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that leads to progressive disability in young adults. A variety of neurological deficits such as motor weakness, spasticity, and ataxia may lead to significant walking gait impairment. The degree of this impairment is associated with severe dysfunction of various neurological systems such as alterations in muscle power, levels of spasticity, degree of instability due to impaired coordination and degree of sensory impairment. Gait impairment are reported as main complaint by 85% of MS patients, and more than one third of them do not retain the ability to walk 20 years after the diagnosis. Several studies have evaluated gait impairment in MS patients and reported that there is a phase with slower walking and shorter stride length, with prolonged double weight-bearing1,2. Gait assessment in MS is difficult, since most instruments currently used are not specific for MS or have not been adapted to the Brazilian population. Therefore, the reliability of such tests is undetermined. It is necessary to monitor the progress of patients and to seek scientific evidence based on the various types of therapeutic interventions. Thus, it is important to have gait assessment scales for MS3-6.