Contributions
Abstract: P342
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Clinical assessment tools
Background: In clinical setting, walking impairments of people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) are routinely assessed using timed tests (i.e. Timed 25 Foot Walk or six-Minute Walk) and patients´ self-reported ambulation performance scales like the 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12). Although simple, cheap and easy to administer, timed tests are not able to fully describe the entire set of features of the gait pattern. On the other hand, the use of instrumental techniques may result complex and time-consuming. However, miniaturized wearable inertial sensors are now accessible at a reasonable cost. They might represent a good option for objective quantitative gait assessment in a clinical setting.
Aim: The study aims to assess the main spatial-temporal (ST) parameter of gait in pwMS in a clinical setting, using a wireless inertial sensing device and to correlate the results with those obtained by the MSWS-12 scale.
Methods: Fifty pwMS (EDSS range 2-6.5) were tested using a wearable inertial sensor previously validated for other neurological diseases. The device was attached at the lower lumbar level and participants walked along a 10-m hallway at a self-selected speed. To evaluate the impact of MS on walking ability, the participants were also requested to complete the MSWS-12 questionnaire. The ST parameters of pwMS were compared with those of a control group (CG) of healthy individuals age and gender-matched. One-way ANOVA was used to assess differences between pwMS and CG, while Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was calculated to analyze correlation between inertial sensor results and MSWS-12.
Results: Mean velocity (1.10 vs. 1.25 m/s), step length (0.31 vs. 0.33 m) and swing phase (35.3 vs. 37.3%) were found significantly reduced in pwMS (p< 0.01 in all cases), while stance phase (64.7 vs. 62.5%) and double support (14.6 vs. 12.6%) resulted higher (p< 0.05). Also, the following ST parameters were found significantly correlated with MSWS-12 score: cadence (r=-0.456, p=0.001), velocity (r=-0.530, p< 0.001), stance phase (r=0.417, p=0.003), swing phase (r=-0.417, p=0.003), double support (r=0.417, p=0.003).
Conclusions: The results show that wearable inertial sensors represent a useful tool to assess gait performance in pwMS in a clinical setting. Moreover, compared with other quantitative techniques, these devices allow patients to be tested under the most ecological conditions (i.e. fully dressed, with their usual shoes).
Disclosure:
Silvia Caggiari: nothing to disclosure
Alessandro Mura: nothing to disclosure
Bruno Leban: nothing to disclosure
Federica Corona: nothing to disclosure
Giancarlo Coghe: nothing to disclosure
Maria Giovanna Marrosu: nothing to disclosure
Eleonora Cocco: nothing to disclosure
Massimiliano Pau: nothing to disclosure
Abstract: P342
Type: Poster
Abstract Category: Clinical aspects of MS - Clinical assessment tools
Background: In clinical setting, walking impairments of people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS) are routinely assessed using timed tests (i.e. Timed 25 Foot Walk or six-Minute Walk) and patients´ self-reported ambulation performance scales like the 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12). Although simple, cheap and easy to administer, timed tests are not able to fully describe the entire set of features of the gait pattern. On the other hand, the use of instrumental techniques may result complex and time-consuming. However, miniaturized wearable inertial sensors are now accessible at a reasonable cost. They might represent a good option for objective quantitative gait assessment in a clinical setting.
Aim: The study aims to assess the main spatial-temporal (ST) parameter of gait in pwMS in a clinical setting, using a wireless inertial sensing device and to correlate the results with those obtained by the MSWS-12 scale.
Methods: Fifty pwMS (EDSS range 2-6.5) were tested using a wearable inertial sensor previously validated for other neurological diseases. The device was attached at the lower lumbar level and participants walked along a 10-m hallway at a self-selected speed. To evaluate the impact of MS on walking ability, the participants were also requested to complete the MSWS-12 questionnaire. The ST parameters of pwMS were compared with those of a control group (CG) of healthy individuals age and gender-matched. One-way ANOVA was used to assess differences between pwMS and CG, while Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was calculated to analyze correlation between inertial sensor results and MSWS-12.
Results: Mean velocity (1.10 vs. 1.25 m/s), step length (0.31 vs. 0.33 m) and swing phase (35.3 vs. 37.3%) were found significantly reduced in pwMS (p< 0.01 in all cases), while stance phase (64.7 vs. 62.5%) and double support (14.6 vs. 12.6%) resulted higher (p< 0.05). Also, the following ST parameters were found significantly correlated with MSWS-12 score: cadence (r=-0.456, p=0.001), velocity (r=-0.530, p< 0.001), stance phase (r=0.417, p=0.003), swing phase (r=-0.417, p=0.003), double support (r=0.417, p=0.003).
Conclusions: The results show that wearable inertial sensors represent a useful tool to assess gait performance in pwMS in a clinical setting. Moreover, compared with other quantitative techniques, these devices allow patients to be tested under the most ecological conditions (i.e. fully dressed, with their usual shoes).
Disclosure:
Silvia Caggiari: nothing to disclosure
Alessandro Mura: nothing to disclosure
Bruno Leban: nothing to disclosure
Federica Corona: nothing to disclosure
Giancarlo Coghe: nothing to disclosure
Maria Giovanna Marrosu: nothing to disclosure
Eleonora Cocco: nothing to disclosure
Massimiliano Pau: nothing to disclosure