Objective motor phenotype assessment in multiple sclerosis: deficits in grip force coordination correlate to changes in diffusion tensor imaging

Background: Complex motor deficits are common symptoms in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Objective and quantitative measures of motor phenotype may increase the sensitivity of clinical trials. We previously found increased grip force variability in patients with MS and correlation of deficits in grip force variability to the EDSS. Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) and analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA) are reliable methods to investigate microstructural damage of the white matter tissue in MS. Objective: To investigate whether the severity of deficits in grip force control in patients with MS assessed b…