title: Clinical assessment of gait in individuals with multiple sclerosis using wearable inertial sensors: Comparison with patient-based measure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study aims to verify the feasibility of use of wearable accelerometers in an ambulatory environment to assess spatiotemporal parameters of gait in people with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS), as well as the correlation of objective data with patient-reported outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and five pwMS (Expanded Disability Status Scale, EDSS in the range 0-6.5) classified in three sub-groups (EDSS 0-1.5, EDSS 2-4, EDSS 4.5-6.5) and 47 healthy controls (HC) participated in the study. All the subjects were evaluated with the timed 25-foot walking test (T25FW) while wearing a commercially available accelerometer. PwMS also rated the impact of the disease on their walking abilities using the 12-item MS walking scale (MSWS-12).
  
  
  RESULTS
  All parameters objectively measured, except stride length, were significantly modified in pwMS with higher EDSS, with respect to HC and lower disability participants. Moderate to high correlations (r =0.57-0.79) were observed between gait parameters and MSWS-12 for pwMS of higher EDSS. The correlation was found moderate for the intermediate EDSS category (r =0.42-0.62).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wearable accelerometers are a useful tool for assessing gait performance for pwMS in a clinical setting, especially in cases of mild to moderate disability. Compared with other quantitative techniques, these devices allow patient testing under realistic conditions (i.e., fully dressed, with their usual shoes) using a simple procedure with immediate availability of data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Electronic address: massimiliano.pau@dimcm.unica.it.
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pau
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caggiari
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mura
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Corona
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Leban
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Coghe
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lorefice
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Marrosu
authors.affiliation: Multiple Sclerosis Centre, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cocco
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D057566:Self Report; D059015:Wireless Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*
keywords: 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale (MSWS-12); Accelerometer; Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS); Gait; Multiple Sclerosis (MS); Spatio-temporal parameters; Timed 25-Foot Walk Test (T25FWT)