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Body-worn motion sensors detect balance and gait deficits in people with multiple sclerosis who have normal walking speed

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posted on 2023-05-19, 04:24 authored by Spain, RI, Rebecca St GeorgeRebecca St George, Salarian, A, Mancini, M, Wagner, JM, Horak, FB, Bourdette, D
While balance and gait limitations are hallmarks of multiple sclerosis (MS), standard stopwatchtimed measures practical for use in the clinic are insensitive in minimally affected patients. This prevents early detection and intervention for mobility problems. The study sought to determine if body-worn sensors could detect differences in balance and gait between people with MS with normal walking speeds and healthy controls. Thirty-one MS and twenty-eight age- and sexmatched control subjects were tested using body-worn sensors both during quiet stance and gait (Timed Up and Go test, TUG). Results were compared to stopwatch-timed measures. Stopwatch durations of the TUG and Timed 25 Foot Walk tests were not significantly different between groups. However, during quiet stance with eyes closed, people with MS had significantly greater sway acceleration amplitude than controls (p = 0.02). During gait, people with MS had greater trunk angular range of motion in roll (medio-lateral flexion, p = 0.017) and yaw (axial rotation, p = 0.026) planes. Turning duration through 180° was also longer in MS (p = 0.031). Thus, bodyworn motion sensors detected mobility differences between MS and healthy controls when traditional timed tests could not. This portable technology provides objective and quantitative mobility data previously not obtainable in the clinic, and may prove a useful outcome measure for early mobility changes in MS.

History

Publication title

Gait & posture

Volume

35

Issue

4

Pagination

573-578

ISSN

0966-6362

Department/School

School of Psychological Sciences

Publisher

Elsevier Sci Ireland Ltd

Place of publication

Ireland

Rights statement

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. or its licensors or contributors.

Repository Status

  • Open

Socio-economic Objectives

Clinical health not elsewhere classified

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