Assessment of walking function in neurological practice

Abstract

An accurate diagnosis of the existing defect of motor function in patients with neurological pathology is necessary for the optimal formulation of the rehabilitation program, selection of drug therapy and evaluation of the effectiveness of treatment. In current clinical practice, clinical scales such as the Dynamic Gait Index, the Rivermid Mobility Index, the Hauser Walk Index, the Stand Up and Go Test, the MDS-UPDRS III are used most often to assess walking function. Evaluation of walking function using valid scales is very accessible, however, it has such a disadvantage as subjectivity. That's why the study of motor functions by instrumental methods gains more prominence. The most well-known methods of objective walking assessment include an analysis of human movements using accelerometers, three-dimensional video analysis, sub-metric, goniometric and impregnation methods. Each of these methods has both advantages and disadvantages. The main requirement to objective methods of assessing walking functions in neurological pathology is the universality of the complex (the accuracy of measurements, regardless of the type of walking disorder), the ability to determine both temporal and spatial characteristics of the step, the ease of use. Considering these requirements, the use of the 'Induction Analyzer of the kinematic parameters of walking' seems promising in the diagnosis of motor disorders.