A combined analysis of spinal mobility and gait spatiotemporal parameters in axial spondyloarthritis using wearable...

Axial spondyloarthritis is a chronic rheumatic disease which impacts spinal mobility and physical functions, including gait. However, current clinical assessments mostly rely on composite indices and questionnaires which involve a degree of subjectivity. This study aimed to assess the discriminant validity of wearable sensors for objective monitoring of axial spondyloarthritis in clinical practice.

Twenty participants with axial spondyloarthritis and 20 healthy controls were included. Spinal mobility alongside gait were assessed while data were collected using inertial measurement units. Data were compared between the two groups and classification performance was assessed by performing receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis. Finally, correlations between parameters measured through inertial measurement units and clinical measures were also evaluated.

The axial spondyloarthritis group showed significantly reduced trunk maximum angles in all planes and direction of motion. Gait was characterized by a reduction in cadence (P = 0.004) and speed (P = 0.015). The combination of gait cadence and trunk kinematics enhanced the classification performance (sensitivity = 95 % vs. 55 % with trunk sagittal range of motion alone). Trunk kinematic variables were correlated to mobility items of clinical measures while spatiotemporal gait parameters showed correlations with the disease activity and its functional impact in daily life.

The present study demonstrated the ability of inertial measurement units to effectively discriminate axial spondyloarthritis individuals, with an enhanced classification performance while combining trunk kinematics and gait spatiotemporal parameters. These findings highlight the potential of wearable sensors as valuable tools for assessment and follow-up in clinical practice.