A new method of assessing multiple sclerosis treatments could improve their effectiveness, researchers say.
Dr Claudia Mazza of the University of Sheffield, UK, and her team explored a new technique for gait analysis.
The team set out to develop a method of analysis that can be used outside of the lab. They worked with doctors at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals to assess walking in ordinary conditions.
The assessments together with information from wearable sensors led to the creation of an algorithm that gives more informative and effective monitoring of patients.
In the journal PLoS ONE yesterday evening (1 May), the team state that their work “will help clinicians more easily assess the effectiveness of existing treatments and disease progression in multiple sclerosis patients.”
Dr Mazza said: “The measurements we take of people with multiple sclerosis in a lab may not be an accurate representation of their everyday condition. Having data from real life scenarios will help clinical staff assess a patient’s condition more accurately. For patients this will mean better treatment as a result of clinicians being more informed about their condition.
“We started off by checking that our portable sensor was accurate, comfortable and able to give the same results as a lab based sensor. We then developed an algorithm (computer program) specific to the patient’s condition which processed the measurements taken from this sensor.
“We ensured this algorithm was capable of handling and processing data from complex movements outside labs.
“Although this is a small study, the results are encouraging and it gives us enough information to progress to a large scale clinical trial.”
She adds that the research could benefit other related conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease.
Mazza, C. et al. PLoS ONE 1 May 2018
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0196463
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