Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39985679›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurology2025

Smartphone-based gait analysis in the assessment of fatigue and fatigability in people with multiple sclerosis: a supervised cohort study.

Carolin Schönherr, Julian Ziegler, Ton Zentek, Asarnush Rashid, Sebastian Strauss, Alexander Tallner, Matthias Grothe

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Sensors in Multiple Sclerosis.Current neurology and neuroscience reports · 2025
    Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Carolin SchönherrDepartment of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Julian ZieglerInnovation Management, Zentrum Für Telemedizin, Bad Kissingen, Germany.
Ton ZentekInnovation Management, Zentrum Für Telemedizin, Bad Kissingen, Germany.
Asarnush RashidInnovation Management, Zentrum Für Telemedizin, Bad Kissingen, Germany.
Sebastian StraussDepartment of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
Alexander Tallner *Innovation Management, Zentrum Für Telemedizin, Bad Kissingen, Germany.
Matthias Grothe *Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. matthias.grothe@med.uni-greifswald.de.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7998-5310

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundGait impairments and fatigue are the most common and disabling symptoms in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Objective 6-min walk test (6MWT) gait testing can be improved through body-worn accelerometers, but its association to subjective fatigue and objective fatigability is contradictory. This study aims to validate an algorithm using smartphone sensor data for spatial-temporal gait parameters in PwMS and healthy controls, and evaluate its accuracy in detecting fatigability, and quantify its association with fatigue in PwMS.

methodsWe recruited PwMS with mild to moderate disability (EDSS 0.0-6.5) and healthy controls in a supervised, lab-based cohort study. All participants performed the 6MWT while wearing a smartphone at the hip, which collected acceleration data of step count, cadence and walking speed. Algorithm validation included the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and Bland-Altman analysis. Fatigability and fatigue were measured in PwMS, with fatigability defined as a 10% decline in gait performance, and fatigue using the fatigue scale for motor and cognitive functions (FSMC). Further, correlations between gait parameters and FSMC were assessed.

resultsA total of 38 PwMS and 24 healthy controls were included. The algorithm demonstrated high validity for step count (MAPE < 3%) and cadence (MAPE < 10%). Gait analyses revealed fatigability in between 2.6 and 15.8% of PwMS, with large differences between the gait parameter assessed. Significant correlations were found especially between FSMC motor fatigue scores and step count (r = - 0.50), cadence (r = 0.51) and walking speed (r = 0.50).

conclusionSmartphone-based gait analysis provides an accessible and valid method for detecting steps and cadence. There are major differences in the assessment of fatigability, but an allover association to subjective motor fatigue.

Indexed as

FatigueGait AnalysisGait Disorders, NeurologicMultiple SclerosisSmartphoneAdultAlgorithmsCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle Aged6MWTFatigueGait analysisMultiple sclerosisSmartphone

Identifiers

PMID39985679
PMCPMC11846754

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.