Identification of improvement in gait performance of MS patients by using upper limb joint movements

In order to offer clinicians a wearable sensor system with affordable cost and reliability to arrest the gait performance of multiple sclerosis patients during their activities of daily living, in this pilot study, we attempted to identify gait performance of MS patient by upper limb joint movements during walking and to determine the decisive locations for sensor placement. Two male subjects participated in the experiments respectively before and after they received prescribed treatment. Gait parameters and upper limb movements performed during trials were analyzed and compared. After the treatment received, the subjects obtained significant improvement in gait performance, upper joint motion cycle time, and meantime vertical shoulder and wrist movements during walking were also improved significantly. The outcomes revealed the feasibility to use upper limb movements during walking to detect deterioration of characterized gait pattern early and trace the daily improvement brought to MS patient by treatment.