title: Validity of the Instrumented Push and Release Test to Quantify Postural Responses in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis.
abstract: To test the validity of wearable inertial sensors to provide objective measures of postural stepping responses to the push and release clinical test in people with multiple sclerosis.
  
  
  
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  
  University medical center balance disorder laboratory.
  
  
  
  Total sample N=73; persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) n=52; healthy controls n=21.
  
  
  
  Stepping latency, time and number of steps required to reach stability, and initial step length were calculated using 3 inertial measurement units placed on participants' lumbar spine and feet.
  
  
  
  Correlations between inertial sensor measures and measures obtained from the laboratory-based systems were moderate to strong and statistically significant for all variables: time to release (r=.992), latency (r=.655), time to stability (r=.847), time of first heel strike (r=.665), number of steps (r=.825), and first step length (r=.592). Compared with healthy controls, PwMS demonstrated a longer time to stability and required a larger number of steps to reach stability.
  
  
  
  The instrumented push and release test is a valid measure of postural responses in PwMS and could be used as a clinical outcome measures for patient care decisions or for clinical trials aimed at improving postural control in PwMS.
authors.affiliation: APDM, Inc., Portland, OR.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El-Gohary
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Science & Health Promotion, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR.
authors.forename: Geetanjali
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gera
authors.affiliation: APDM, Inc., Portland, OR; Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR.
authors.forename: Fay B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Horak
authors.affiliation: Landon Center on Aging, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS. Electronic address: jhuisinga@kumc.edu.
authors.forename: Jessie M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Huisinga
mesh_terms: D056044:Actigraphy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Movement disorders; Multiple sclerosis; Rehabilitation