Reliability of IMU-Derived Temporal Gait Parameters in Neurological Diseases
Gait evaluation is a core component of neurological movement disorder assessment and is traditionally based on clinical observation. Recently, inertial measurement units (IMUs) have been increasingly integrated into gait analysis, allowing objective assessment of temporal gait parameters to compare patient groups or monitor disease progression. However, day-to-day variability may affect the reliability of these measures, particularly in specific patient populations. This study examined the day-to-day variability of temporal gait parameters under two walking conditions in neurogeriatric patients using a lower back-worn IMU. Forty-nine participants (24 women: 78 ± 6 years, BMI 25.1 kg/m²; 25 men: 77 ± 6 years, BMI 26.5 kg/m²) were recruited from a neurogeriatric ward. Participants completed 4 m and 20 m walking trials during one session, repeated the following day. Reliability was assessed using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC2,k) and minimal detectable change (MDC) for nine temporal gait parameters. Overall, parameters showed poor to moderate reliability, with mean ICC of 0.57 ± 0.18 and mean MDC95% of 52% ± 53%. Only four parameters demonstrated high relative and good absolute reliability. Reliability improved with longer walking distances and further increased when analyzing steady-state walking during the 20 m condition. The most reliable parameters were swing time, stride time, step time, and stance time. These findings highlight the importance of reliability when using IMU-derived gait parameters and underscore the need for careful parameter selection in neurogeriatric patients.
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