Evaluating motor deficits in multiple sclerosis using jump and hop tests

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease that often leads to subtle motor impairments even in early stages. Traditional clinical assessments may fail to detect these early deficits. Jump and hop tasks, requiring complex neuromuscular coordination, have emerged as promising functional assessments in neurological populations. This review aims to synthesize current evidence on the use of jump- and hop-based assessments to evaluate motor performance in people with MS (pwMS). A systematic search of PubMed and Scopus was conducted in April 2025. Studies were included if they involved pwMS, used jump or hop tasks, and reported performance, kinetic, or kinematic outcomes. Nine studies met inclusion criteria. Countermovement jumps (CMJ) were most frequently used and consistently detected motor deficits in pwMS, including reduced flight time, jump height, and power output. Single-leg CMJ tests identified asymmetries correlated with disability scores. Bipedal hops revealed impaired coordination and anticipatory control. One study assessed motor fatigability through repetitive jumping, while another evaluated the patient experience of sensor-based jump testing. Jump and hop assessments provide potentially sensitive, non-invasive tools for detecting early motor impairments in MS. They offer potential for improving clinical monitoring and guiding individualized rehabilitation strategies.