title: Novel characterization of gait impairments in people with multiple sclerosis by means of the gait profile score.
abstract: The assessment of gait abnormalities in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) represents a key factor in evaluating the effectiveness of rehabilitation treatments. Despite the availability of sophisticated equipment to objectively evaluate the kinematic aspects of gait, there are still some difficulties in processing the large and complex amount of data they produce in the daily clinical routine. On the basis of the above-mentioned considerations we propose a novel characterization of gait kinematics in individuals with MS, based on a single measure (gait profile score, GPS) obtained from a quantitative three-dimensional analysis of gait performed using an opto-electronic system. We also investigated the correlation between GPS and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) values. Thirty-four patients suffering from relapsing-remitting MS (13 female, 21 male, mean age 46.7 years) with an EDSS score of ≤6 underwent a gait analysis from which the GPS index was calculated. Their results were compared with those of a control group of healthy age- and gender-matched subjects. The GPS of individuals with MS was found significantly higher with respect to controls (9.12° vs. 5.67°, p<0.001) as the result of kinematic differences in gait patterns referring to pelvic tilt and rotation, hip flexion-extension and rotation, knee flexion-extension and ankle dorsi- and plantar-flexion. A moderate correlation was also found between the EDSS score of the participants and their GPS values (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). The GPS index thus appears suitable to represent gait deviations from physiological patterns in individuals affected by MS and potentially useful in assessing the outcomes related both to rehabilitation programs and pharmacologic/physical therapies.
authors: Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: massimiliano.pau@dimcm.unica.it.
authors: Massimiliano
authors: M
authors: Pau
authors: Centro Sclerosi Multipla, Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Giancarlo
authors: G
authors: Coghe
authors: Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Atzeni
authors: Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Federica
authors: F
authors: Corona
authors: Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Giuseppina
authors: G
authors: Pilloni
authors: Centro Sclerosi Multipla, Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Maria Giovanna
authors: MG
authors: Marrosu
authors: Centro Sclerosi Multipla, Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Cocco
authors: Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milano, Italy; IRCCS "San Raffaele Pisana", Tosinvest Sanità, Roma, Italy.
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Galli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS); Gait; Gait profile score (GPS); Kinematics; Motion analysis; Multiple sclerosis (MS)