Article

Advances in portable sensor technology have opened an era for
objective, real-life monitoring of walking speed in persons with multiple
sclerosis (MS). The present study examined the accuracy of the
actibelt((R)) accelerometer for measuring walking speed during a standard 6-min
walk (6MW) and the possibility that disability status influenced the degree of
accuracy among persons with MS. METHODS: On a single testing session, 51 persons
with MS and Expanded Disability Status Scale scores between 2.0 and 6.5 performed
a 6MW while wearing an actibelt((R)) in the body's sagittal symmetry plane and
close to the body's centre of mass. RESULTS: All 51 participants completed the
6MW without stopping, falling, or any adverse events, and the actibelt((R))
provided walking speed data for each of the participants. The actibelt((R))
significantly overestimated walking speed (actual minus actibelt((R))) by a
mean+/-standard deviation of -0.12+/-0.17 m/s for the overall sample (p<0.0001).
There was no significant overestimation in the sample with mild disability
(-0.02+/-0.11 m/s), but there was in the samples with moderate (-0.10+/-0.16 m/s)
and severe (-0.26+/-0.12 m/s) disability. CONCLUSION: The actibelt((R)) is ready
for real-life monitoring of walking speed in persons with mild MS, but caution is
necessary when interpreting the accuracy of the walking speed data for those with
MS who have moderate and severe disability.
CI - Copyright (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS