Although the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) is among the recommended clinical tools to assess gait impairments in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), its standard clinical outcome consists only of ...the distance walked in 6 min. Integrating a single Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) could provide additional quantitative and objective information about gait quality complementing standard clinical outcome. This study aims to evaluate the test-retest reliability, validity and discriminant ability of gait parameters obtained by a single IMU during the 6MWT in subjects with mild PD. Twenty-two people with mild PD and ten healthy persons performed the 6MWT wearing an IMU placed on the lower trunk. Features belonging to rhythm and pace, variability, regularity, jerkiness, intensity, dynamic instability and symmetry domains were computed. Test-retest reliability was evaluated through the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), while concurrent validity was determined by Spearman's coefficient. Mann-Whitney U test and the Area Under the receiver operating characteristic Curve (AUC) were then applied to assess the discriminant ability of reliable and valid parameters. Results showed an overall high reliability (ICC ≥ 0.75) and multiple significant correlations with clinical scales in all domains. Several features exhibited significant alterations compared to healthy controls. Our findings suggested that the 6MWT instrumented with a single IMU can provide reliable and valid information about gait features in individuals with PD. This offers objective details about gait quality and the possibility of being integrated into clinical evaluations to better define walking rehabilitation strategies in a quick and easy way.
Out-of-the-lab instrumented gait testing focuses on steady-state gait and usually does not include gait initiation (GI) measures. GI involves Anticipatory Postural Adjustments (APAs), which propel ...the center of mass (COM) forward and laterally before the first step. These movements are impaired in persons with Parkinson’s disease (PD), contributing to their pathological gait. The use of a simple GI testing system, outside the lab, would allow improving gait rehabilitation of PD patients. Here, we evaluated the metrological quality of using a single inertial measurement unit for APA detection as compared with the use of a gold-standard system, i.e., the force platforms. Twenty-five PD and eight elderly subjects (ELD) were asked to initiate gait in response to auditory stimuli while wearing an IMU on the trunk. Temporal parameters (APA-Onset, Time-to-Toe-Off, Time-to-Heel-Strike, APA-Duration, Swing-Duration) extracted from the accelerometric data and force platforms were significantly correlated (mean(SD), r: 0.99(0.01), slope: 0.97(0.02)) showing a good level of agreement (LOA s: 0.04(0.01), CV %: 2.9(1.7)). PD showed longer APA-Duration compared to ELD (s 0.81(0.17) vs. 0.59(0.09) p < 0.01). APA parameters showed moderate correlation with the MDS-UPDRS Rigidity, Characterizing-FOG questionnaire and FAB-2 planning. The single IMU-based reconstruction algorithm was effective in measuring APAs timings in PD. The current work sets the stage for future developments of tele-rehabilitation and home-based exercises.
•The Italian society of clinical movement analysis promoted a consensus conference.•The consensus conference addressed 13 questions regarding gait analysis in clinics.•The paper presents the ...consensus statements.•Statements are intended to improve practice and services for patients.
Gait analysis is recognized as a useful assessment tool in the field of human movement research. However, doubts remain on its real effectiveness as a clinical tool, i.e. on its capability to change the diagnostic-therapeutic practice. In particular, the conditions in which evidence of a favorable cost-benefit ratio is found and the methodology for properly conducting and interpreting the exam are not identified clearly.
To provide guidelines for the use of Gait Analysis in the context of rehabilitation medicine, SIAMOC (the Italian Society of Clinical Movement Analysis) promoted a National Consensus Conference which was held in Bologna on September 14th, 2013. The resulting recommendations were the result of a three-stage process entailing i) the preparation of working documents on specific open issues, ii) the holding of the consensus meeting, and iii) the drafting of consensus statements by an external Jury. The statements were formulated based on scientific evidence or experts’ opinion, when the quality/quantity of the relevant literature was deemed insufficient.
The aim of this work is to disseminate the consensus statements. These are divided into 13 questions grouped in three areas of interest: 1) General requirements and management, 2) Methodological and instrumental issues, and 3) Scientific evidence and clinical appropriateness.
SIAMOC hopes that this document will contribute to improve clinical practice and help promoting further research in the field.
Smoothness (i.e. non-intermittency) of movement is a clinically important property of the voluntary movement with accuracy and proper speed. Resting head position and head voluntary movements are ...impaired in cervical dystonia. The current work aims to evaluate if the smoothness of voluntary head rotations is reduced in this disease. Twenty-six cervical dystonia patients and 26 controls completed rightward and leftward head rotations. Patients' movements were differentiated into "towards-dystonia" (rotation accentuated the torticollis) and "away-dystonia". Smoothness was quantified by the angular jerk and arc length of the spectrum of angular speed (i.e. SPARC, arbitrary units). Movement amplitude (mean, 95% CI) on the horizontal plane was larger in controls (63.8°, 58.3°-69.2°) than patients when moving towards-dystonia (52.8°, 46.3°-59.4°; P = 0.006). Controls' movements (49.4°/s, 41.9-56.9°/s) were faster than movements towards-dystonia (31.6°/s, 25.2-37.9°/s; P < 0.001) and away-dystonia (29.2°/s, 22.9-35.5°/s; P < 0.001). After taking into account the different amplitude and speed, SPARC-derived (but not jerk-derived) indices showed reduced smoothness in patients rotating away-dystonia (1.48, 1.35-1.61) compared to controls (1.88, 1.72-2.03; P < 0.001). Poor smoothness is a motor disturbance independent of movement amplitude and speed in cervical dystonia. Therefore, it should be assessed when evaluating this disease, its progression, and treatments.
This analysis pooled pain severity data from four phase 3 and 4 studies of incobotulinumtoxinA (incoBoNT-A) for the treatment of cervical dystonia (CD) in adults. CD-related pain severity was ...assessed at baseline, each injection visit, and 4 weeks after each injection of incoBoNT-A using the Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale pain severity subscale or a pain visual analog scale. Both were analyzed using a score range of 0-10 and pain was categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. Data for 678 patients with pain at baseline were assessed and sensitivity analyses evaluated pain responses in the subgroup not taking concomitant pain medication (
= 384 at baseline). At Week 4 after the first injection, there was a mean change of -1.25 (standard deviation 2.04) points from baseline pain severity (
< 0.0001), with 48.1% showing ≥ 30% pain reduction from baseline, 34.4% showing ≥50% pain reduction from baseline, and 10.3% becoming pain free. Pain responses were sustained over five injection cycles with a trend to incremental improvements with each successive cycle. Pain responses in the subgroup not taking concomitant pain medication demonstrated the lack of confounding effects of pain medications. These results confirmed the pain relief benefits of long-term treatment with incoBoNT-A.
Telerehabilitation is emerging as a promising digital method for delivering rehabilitation to Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients, especially in the early stages to promote brain resilience. This study ...explores how cognitive reserve (CR), the brain's ability to withstand aging and disease, impacts the effectiveness of telerehabilitation. It specifically examines the influence of lifelong cognitive activities on the relationship between neural reserve and improved functional abilities following rehabilitation. In the study, 42 PD patients underwent a 4-month neuromotor telerehabilitation program. CR proxies were assessed using the Cognitive Reserve Index questionnaire (CRIq), brain changes via 3T-MRI, and functional response through changes in the 6-Minute Walk Distance (6MWD). Participants were divided into responders (n = 23) and non-responders (n = 19) based on their 6MWD improvement. A multiple regression model was run to test significant predictors of 6MWD after treatment in each group. The results revealed a significant correlation between 6MWD and CRIq scores, but only among responders. Notably, the CRIq Leisure-Time sub-index, along with baseline 6MWD, were predictors of post-treatment 6MWD. These findings highlight CR's role in enhancing the benefits of telerehabilitation on PD patients' neuromotor functions. Clinically, these results suggest that neurologists and clinicians should consider patients' lifestyles and cognitive engagement as important factors in predicting and enhancing the outcomes of telerehabilitation. The study underscores the potential of CR as both a predictor and booster of telerehabilitation's effects, advocating for a personalized approach to PD treatment that takes into account individual CR levels.
We provide a practical guide on the use of electromyography (EMG) and ultrasound (US) to assist botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) treatment in patients with cervical dystonia (CD).
US and EMG guidance ...improve BoNT treatment in CD. Their use is particularly valuable for targeting deep neck muscles and managing complex cases. There is also evidence that adverse events are reduced when superficial or intermediate layer muscles are injected with assisted guidance.
A structured clinical approach, based on functional neck anatomy, guides CD assessment and BoNT treatment. Muscles are selected according to clinical, EMG and US findings. US provides anatomical visualization, while EMG complements by detecting muscle activity. We review here the current practice for assisted treatment of CD through BoNT cycles. We also describe how to recognize and manage the main adverse events.
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