The Feasibility and Validity of Body-Worn Sensors to Supplement Timed Walking Tests for Children with Neurological Conditions.

AIMS: The 10-meter walk test (10 mWT) and Timed Up and Go (TUG) are assessments of speed/time with a ceiling effect in pediatric populations. This study aimed to (1) determine whether collecting spatiotemporal data with inertial sensors (Mobility Lab, APDM Inc.) during these tests improves their discriminative validity, and (2) evaluate the clinical feasibility of Mobility Lab.

METHODS: Fifteen children with spina bifida (SB) or cerebral palsy (CP) (7.9 ± 3.1 years old) and fifteen age- and sex-matched typically-developing (TD) children completed the 10 mWT and TUG wearing Mobility Lab. Spatiotemporal data were compared between groups. Mobility Lab's potential to distinguish children with SB/CP from TD children was examined using conditional logistic regression. Feasibility was evaluated through participant adherence and a clinical utility scale.

RESULTS: For the 10 mWT, group differences (p < 0.01) were found in horizontal and frontal trunk range of motion, horizontal trunk velocity, and swing asymmetry. Children with SB/CP took significantly longer to turn during the TUG. These five variables together distinguished the two groups (p = 0.006). 78% of participants with SB/CP completed the testing protocol. Mobility Lab scored 4/10 on the clinical utility scale.

CONCLUSIONS: Instrumenting the 10 mWT and TUG improves the tests' ability to discriminate between children with SB/CP and TD children.