220VP Wearable sensors to evaluate and monitor neuromuscular patients in real world environment

Abstract

Wearable sensors are becoming increasingly popular for complementing standard clinical assessments of gait deficits and for remote monitoring patient's motor function in real world. Monitoring gait during the 6MWT offers an opportunity to investigate the dynamic changes that occur in prolonged walking. Besides, continuous monitoring at home gives information on patient's daily physical activity. Our first aim is to determine if gait parameters worsen during sustained walking in patients affected by myotonic dystrophy (MD). Our secondary aim is to evaluate the feasibility of acquiring physical activity biomarkers in daily living conditions. We collected data of 30 patients with MD during a standard 6MWT wearing a sensor (GSensor, BTS) at L5 level. Gait parameters were extracted from raw signals, corresponding to early, middle and late segments of the 6MWT and we applied non-parametric tests to compare gait segments. Home monitoring for extraction of physical activity data will be performed using a wearable sensor (DynaPort 7, McRoberts) worn consecutively for 7-days. Preliminary results show an increase in gait acceleration and significant changes in smoothness and stability of gait in the MD group between the early and the late section of the 6MWT. Our preliminary results suggest that gait parameters associated to fatigability can be measured during a 6MWT using a wearable device and that the method allows to highlight variations during sections of the 6MWT in patients with MD. Evaluating patients with a neuromuscular disease in their ecologic setting could significantly impact rehabilitation management with the aim of promoting an active lifestyle.