Validity of the instrumented push and release test to quantify postural responses in persons with multiple sclerosis

Publication date: Available online 6 March 2017
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): Mahmoud El-Gohary, Daniel Peterson, Geetanjali Gera, Fay B. Horak, Jessie M. Huisinga
ObjectiveTo test the validity of wearable inertial sensors to provide objective measures of postural stepping responses to the Push and Release clinical test in people with multiple sclerosisDesignCross-sectionalSettingUniversity medical center balance disorders laboratoryParticipants52 PwMS and 21 age-matched healthy controlsMain Outcome Measuresstepping latency, time and number of steps required to reach stability, and initial step length were calculated from three inertial measurement units placed on participants' lumbar spine and feet.ResultsCorrelations between the inertial sensor measures and measures obtained from the laboratory-based systems were moderate to strong and statistically significant for all variables: time to release (r = 0.992), latency (r = 0.655), time to stability (r = 0.847), time of first heel strike (r = 0.665), number of steps (r = 0.825) and first step length (r = 0.592). Compared to healthy controls, PwMS demonstrated a longer time to stability and required a larger number of steps to reach stability.ConclusionsThe instrumented Push and Release test (IPUSH) is a valid measure of postural responses in PwMS and could be used as a clinical outcome measures for patient care decisions or for clinical trials aimed at improving postural control in PwMS.



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