Consensus on recommended evaluation tools in multiple sclerosis (CORE-MS): A Delphi study protocol on balance and...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Rehabilitation Science
• Clinical Assessment

Background:

• Gait and balance impairments significantly impact People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS), affecting mobility and quality of life.
• Current assessment tools for PwMS lack consensus, hindering effective detection of changes at clinical, movement quality, and neural levels.
• There is a need for standardized measures to guide individualized rehabilitation for PwMS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish expert consensus on the most appropriate tools for assessing gait and balance in People with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS).
• To support an individualized approach to rehabilitation for PwMS.
• To create a consensus-based framework for gait and balance assessment in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) rehabilitation.

Main Methods:

• A focus group with experts to gather initial feedback.
• A multi-round Delphi study using an electronic platform for international expert consensus.
• Iterative anonymous surveys to evaluate and agree upon assessment tools until consensus is reached.

Main Results:

• Identification of a core set of outcome measures for gait and balance assessment in PwMS.
• Consensus achieved on tools covering clinical, movement quality, and neural aspects.
• Statistical measures of agreement guided the consensus process.

Conclusions:

• The study addresses fragmentation in clinical practice and research for PwMS by providing a consensus framework.
• Improved assessment will facilitate tailored rehabilitation interventions, enhancing functional outcomes and quality of care for PwMS.
• The findings will inform future research on patient stratification, treatment effectiveness, and precision rehabilitation in MS.