Background: Gait characteristics and their changes during the 6-minute walking test (6MWT) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) have been described in the literature, which one may refer to as walking fatigability in the body function level of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health. However, whether these metrics are reliable is unknown. Objective: To investigate the between-day reliability of the gait characteristics and their changes in pwMS and healthy controls (HCs). Methods: Forty-nine pwMS (EDSS 4.82 ± 1.22 and 54.7 ± 9.36 years) and 23 HCs (50.6 ± 6.1 years) performed the 6MWT, as fast as possible but safely while wearing Inertial Measurement Units. Gait characteristics were measured in the pace, rhythm, variability, asymmetry, kinematics, coordination, and postural control domains and were obtained in intervals of 1 minute during the 6MWT. In addition, gait characteristics change in the last minute compared with the first minute were calculated for all gait variables using a fatigability index (ie, distance walking index). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Bland-Altman Plots, and Standard error of measurement were applied to investigate reliability. Results: Reliability of gait characteristics, minute-by-minute, and for their changes (ie, using the fatigability index) ranged from poor to excellent (pwMS: ICC 0.46-0.96; HC: ICC 0.09-0.97 and pwMS: ICC 0-0.72; HC: ICC 0-0.77, respectively). Conclusion: Besides coordination, at least 1 variable of each gait domain showed an ICC of moderate or good reliability for gait characteristics changes in both pwMS and HC. These metrics can be incorporated into future clinical trials and research on walking fatigability.Clinical Trial Registration: NCT05412043.


    Access

    Download


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Between-Day Reliability of the Gait Characteristics and Their Changes During the 6-Minute Walking Test in People With Multiple Sclerosis



    Publication date :

    2024-01-01



    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Classification :

    DDC:    629



    Prognosis of walking function in multiple sclerosis supported by gait pattern analysis

    Zörner, Björn / Hostettler, Pascal / Meyer, Christian et al. | BASE | 2022

    Free access

    Gait and Multiple Sclerosis

    McLoughlin, James | Springer Verlag | 2018



    Sensorized Tip for Monitoring People with Multiple Sclerosis that Require Assistive Devices for Walking

    Brull Mesanza, Asier / Zubizarreta Pico, Asier / Cabanes Axpe, Itziar et al. | BASE | 2020

    Free access