Accelerometry and its association with objective markers of walking limitations in ambulatory adults with multiple sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To validate accelerometry based on its correlations with 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and oxygen cost of walking as objective markers of walking limitations in multiple sclerosis (MS).


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Laboratory and general community.


METHODS
Ambulatory participants with MS (N=26) who resided in the local community.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Patient Determined Disease Steps (PDDS) scale and Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12 (MSWS-12); 6-minute walk test while wearing a portable metabolic unit for measuring the 6MWD and oxygen cost of walking; accelerometer during the waking hours of a 7-day period.


RESULTS
The average of total daily movement counts from the accelerometer correlated significantly and strongly with MSWS-12 scores (ρ=-.681, P=.001), PDDS scores (ρ=-.609, P=.001), 6MWD (ρ=.519, P=.003), and oxygen cost of walking (ρ=-.541, P=.002).


CONCLUSIONS
We provide evidence that further supports the validity of accelerometry as a measure of walking limitations in ambulatory persons with MS.
Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 61801, USA. robmotl@uiuc.edu
Robert W
RW
Motl
Deirdre
D
Dlugonski
Yoojin
Y
Suh
Madeline
M
Weikert
Bo
B
Fernhall
Myla
M
Goldman
D000054:Acceleration; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*