Abstract
PurposeThis study introduces a novel way to accurately assess gait quality. This new method called Multifeature Gait Score (MGS) is based on the computation of multiple parameters characterizing six aspects of gait (temporal, amplitude, variability, regularity, symmetry and complexity) quantified with one inertial sensor. According to the aspects described, parameters were aggregated into partial scores to indicate the altered aspect in the case of abnormal patterns. In order to evaluate the overall gait quality, partial scores were averaged to a global score.MethodsThe MGS was computed for 3 groups namely: healthy adult (10 subjects), sedentary elderly (11 subjects) and active elderly (20 subjects). Data were gathered from an inertial sensor located at the lumbar region during two sessions of 12m walking.ResultsThe results based on ANOVA and Tukey tests showed that the partial scores with the exception of those which describe the symmetry aspect were able to discriminate between groups (p<0.05). This significant difference was also confirmed by the global score which shows a significantly lower value for the sedentary elderly group (3.58 ±1.15) compared to the healthy adults (5.19 ±0.84) and active elderly (4.82 ±1.26). In addition, the intersession repeatability of the elaborated global score was excellent (ICC = 0.93, % SEM = 10.81).ConclusionThe results obtained support the reliability and the relevance of the MGS as a novel method to characterize gait quality.
Highlights
Clinical assessment tests such as Tinetti and Get Up and Go require the patient to perform several tasks and lead directly to a subjective outcome evaluating inter alia the gait quality which is considered as the deviation of gait from normative data
The results based on ANOVA and Tukey tests showed that the partial scores with the exception of those which describe the symmetry aspect were able to discriminate between groups (p
Contrary to the partial scores computed from parameters describing the symmetry aspect, the other partial scores showed significant differences between the groups considered (p
Summary
Clinical assessment tests such as Tinetti and Get Up and Go require the patient to perform several tasks and lead directly to a subjective outcome evaluating inter alia the gait quality which is considered as the deviation of gait from normative data. These measures are used to monitor the progression of healing of patients or to test the effectiveness of a rehabilitation program [3]. They are used in health diagnosis to identify certain pathologies, to assess the general health status [4,5] or to determine the effect of physical activity [6,7]. In the case of gait assessment, this numeric representation characterizes in a simpler way the degree of alteration of the walking pattern, assess the result of surgical intervention and evaluate the effect of a reeducation or physical activity program prescribed to improve the gait quality [13,14,15]
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