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Updated: Jun 9, 2025
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Home-Based Monitor for Gait and Activity Analysis
Published on: August 8, 2019
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Spatial-Temporal Analysis of Gait in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Using Foot-Worn Inertial Sensors: An Observational
Meghan Lukac1, Hannah Luben1, Anne E Martin1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA.
Digital Biomarkers
|October 30, 2024
Summary
Remote monitoring using wearable sensors can track gait changes in patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). This method detected significant walking speed decreases, particularly in those using assistive devices.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease impacting gait and increasing fall risk.
- Current clinical assessments of gait are infrequent and physically demanding for ALS patients.
- Remote monitoring of functional mobility offers an advantageous approach to track gait changes over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To remotely track long-term changes in walking speed in ALS patients using wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs).
- To develop and validate a method for processing IMU data to measure home walking speed.
- To compare home walking speed with clinic-measured speed and identify trends in ALS progression.
Main Methods:
- Nine ALS patients and six healthy controls recorded their walking speed twice weekly at home for 24 and 4 weeks, respectively, using IMUs.
- A data processing method was developed and validated against laboratory-measured walking speed.
- Longitudinal changes in home walking speed were analyzed over the study period.
Main Results:
- Home walking speed was significantly lower than clinic walking speed for both ALS patients and controls (average difference of 0.19 m/s).
- Five out of nine ALS patients showed a significant decrease in home walking speed over 24 weeks (average rate of -0.021 m/s/month).
- ALS patients who transitioned to using an assistive device demonstrated a greater decline in walking speed.
Conclusions:
- Remote longitudinal gait monitoring using IMUs is feasible for ALS patients.
- The majority of ALS patients experienced decreased walking speed, with the most pronounced declines observed in those requiring assistive devices.
- Home walking speed assessments may provide a more accurate reflection of real-world functional mobility in ALS, supporting the utility of remote monitoring.
