Quantitation of McArdle's Sign and Evaluation of Specificity for Multiple Sclerosis
Quantitation of McArdle's Sign and Evaluation of Specificity for Multiple Sclerosis
The study is designed to quantitate McArdle's sign, an increase in measurable weakness with
 neck flexion described in patients with multiple sclerosis, and to determine whether it is or
 is not specific for multiple sclerosis.
Finger strength will be measure using a torque-measuring device designed to quantitate finger
 extension strength. The device was designed for point of treatment use, patient safety and
 portability. Strength will be measured in 5 paired trials, first with neck extended and then
 with neck flexed. Two protocols will be evaluated, one testing isometric strength against a
 fixed resistance and the second testing strength against dynamic resistance. McArdle's sign
 is the difference between strength with neck extension and strength with neck flexion.

 The data will be digitally registered and dynamic neck position will be recorded
 electronically in real time. Graphs of dynamic changes in torque versus neck position will be
 generated and superimposed. Strength will be quantitated using Matlab software.

 Consecutive patients with myelopathy of any cause with detectable finger extensor weakness
 will be studied, either due to MS or due to other cause of myelopathy (other inflammatory,
 vascular, compressive, neoplastic and other). Additionally, normal controls will be studied
 as will patients with finger extension weakness due to peripheral nerve lesions.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Myelopathy of any cause with finger extension weakness

 -  Patients with peripheral neuropathy with finger extension weakness

 -  Healthy controls

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Pregnant subjects.