Determining physiological significance of inertial gait features in multiple sclerosis

Gait impairment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) can result from imbalance, physical fatigue, weakness, and other symptoms. Walking speed is the primary measure of gait impairment used by clinical researchers, but inertial gait features from body-worn sensors have been proven to add clinical value. This paper seeks to understand the physiologic significance of two such features in MS. Both features are computed using the dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm: the “DTW Score” is based on the usual DTW distance, and the “Warp Score” is based on the warping length. Using linear regression and stepwise regression models, the relationship between these features and several gait-related MS symptoms is analyzed. Results show that the DTW Score and Warp Score have distinct physiologic significance in MS compared to walking speed, and these features may also be useful for walking assessment in a wide range of clinical contexts.