title: Reliability of spatial-temporal gait parameters during dual-task interference in people with multiple sclerosis. A cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the reliability and minimum detectable change (MDC) of spatial-temporal gait parameters in subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS) during dual tasking.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study involved 25 healthy subjects (mean age 49.9 ± 15.8 years) and 25 people with MS (mean age 49.2 ± 11.5 years). Gait under motor-cognitive and motor-motor dual tasking conditions was evaluated in two sessions separated by a one-day interval using the GAITRite Walkway System. Test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), standard errors of measurement (SEM), and coefficients of variation (CV). MDC scores were computed for the velocity, cadence, step and stride length, step and stride time, double support time, the % of gait cycle for single support and stance phase, and base of support.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the gait parameters reported good to excellent ICCs under both conditions, with healthy subject values of >0.69 and MS subject values of >0.84. SEM values were always below 18% for both groups of subjects. The gait patterns of the people with MS were slightly more variable than those of the normal controls (CVs: 5.88-41.53% vs 2.84-30.48%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The assessment of quantitative gait parameters in healthy subjects and people with MS is highly reliable under both of the investigated dual tasking conditions.
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Institute of Care and Research (IRCCS), Scientific Institute of Lissone, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: marco.monticone@fsm.it.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monticone
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Institute of Care and Research (IRCCS), Scientific Institute of Lissone, Milan, Italy; Neuroengineering and Medical Robotics Laboratory (NearLab), Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ambrosini
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Institute of Care and Research (IRCCS), Scientific Institute of Lissone, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fiorentini
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Institute of Care and Research (IRCCS), Scientific Institute of Lissone, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rocca
authors.affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Institute of Care and Research (IRCCS), Scientific Institute of Lissone, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Liquori
authors.affiliation: Neuroengineering and Medical Robotics Laboratory (NearLab), Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pedrocchi
authors.affiliation: Neuroengineering and Medical Robotics Laboratory (NearLab), Department of Electronics, Information, and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrante
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis; D009989:Orthotic Devices; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013995:Time
keywords: Dual tasking; Gait; Minimum detectable change; Multiple sclerosis; Reliability