Foot-Worn Inertial Sensors Are Reliable to Assess Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Axial Spondyloarthritis under Single and Dual Task Walking in Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Julie Soulard,Jacques Vaillant,Romain Balaguier,Athan Baillet,Philippe Gaudin,Nicolas Vuillerme

doi:10.3390/s20226453

Abstract

The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the relative and absolute reliability of gait parameters during walking in single- and dual-task conditions in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), (2) to evaluate the absolute and relative reliability of dual task effects (DTE) parameters, and (3) to determine the number of trials required to ensure reliable gait assessment, in patients with axSpA. Twenty patients with axSpa performed a 10-m walk test in single- and dual-task conditions, three times for each condition. Spatiotemporal, symmetry, and DTE gait parameters were calculated from foot-worn inertial sensors. The relative reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients-ICC) and absolute reliability (standard error of measurement-SEM and minimum detectable change-MDC) were calculated for these parameters in each condition. Spatiotemporal gait parameters showed good to excellent reliability in both conditions (0.59 < ICC < 0.90). The reliability of symmetry and DTE parameters was low. ICC, SEM, and MDC were better when using the mean of the second and the third trials. Spatiotemporal gait parameters obtained from foot-worn inertial sensors assessed in patients with axSpA in single- and dual-task conditions are reliable. However, symmetry and DTE parameters seem less reliable and need to be interpreted with caution. Finally, better reliability of gait parameters was found when using the mean of the 2nd and the 3rd trials.

Highlights

Gait is a fundamental human motor activity [1] and allows for movement from place to place in daily life, and social participation [2]
The present study demonstrated low reliability of symmetry gait parameters and dual task effects obtained from spatiotemporal gait parameters
Our results suggest that researchers and clinicians should be aware of the poor reliability of dual task effects (DTE) among axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), for some spatiotemporal gait parameters and should use speed or stride length which had better DTE reliability

Summary

Introduction

Gait is a fundamental human motor activity [1] and allows for movement from place to place in daily life, and social participation [2]. Slow gait speed (i.e.,

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