Quantifying six-minute walk induced gait deterioration with inertial sensors in multiple sclerosis subjects.
Matthew M Engelhard, Sriram Raju Dandu, Stephen D Patek and 2 others
PMID 27479220WHAT IT FOUND
A hip-worn sensor detected gait deterioration in people with multiple sclerosis that walking speed missed, particularly in later minutes of the six-minute walk.
This suggests two-minute tests may be too short to capture fatigue-related changes in mild cases.
Key findings
01Gait deterioration detected by the sensor increased significantly between minutes 3 and 6 in both mild and moderate MS subjects.
02The sensor-based Warp Score correlated with patient-reported walking difficulty and fatigue, even after accounting for walking speed.
03In one mild subject, the sensor detected rising gait deterioration in minute 6 that walking speed alone failed to capture.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study used a specific algorithm (DTW) and sensor placement that may not be widely available or standardized in clinical practice. Controls were assigned zero scores for disability measures, which may oversimplify baseline comparisons. The cross-sectional nature of the walk analysis means long-term predictive validity for disease progression was not tested. The sample size for severe subjects (11) was small, potentially limiting the generalizability of findings for advanced disability.
Declared interests
Dr. Goldman (likely corresponding author) reported grants from NIH, Biogen Idec, and Novartis, and personal fees from Questcor and Serepta. Other authors declared no conflicts.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this sensor-based method is currently available or validated for routine clinical use. The study demonstrates the potential of gait analysis algorithms to detect fatigue, but it does not provide a ready-to-use diagnostic tool or prove that this specific Warp Score improves patient outcomes compared to standard care.