Italian Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, 16149 Genoa, Italy.
Movendo Technology S.R.L, 16149 Genoa, Italy.
Sensors (Basel). 2024 May 23;24(11):3325. doi: 10.3390/s24113325.
Robotic devices are known to provide pivotal parameters to assess motor functions in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) as dynamic balance. However, there is still a lack of validation studies comparing innovative technologies with standard solutions. Thus, this study's aim was to compare the postural assessment of fifty people with MS (PwMS) during dynamic tasks performed with the gold standard EquiTest and the robotic platform hunova, using Center of Pressure (COP)-related parameters and global balance indexes.
Pearson's ρ correlations were run for each COP-related measure and the global balance index was computed from EquiTest and hunova in both open (EO) and closed-eyes (EC) conditions.
Considering COP-related parameters, all correlations were significant in both EO (0.337 ≤ ρ ≤ 0.653) and EC (0.344 ≤ ρ ≤ 0.668). Furthermore, Pearson's analysis of global balance indexes revealed relatively strong for visual and vestibular, and strong for somatosensory system associations (ρ = 0.573; ρ = 0.494; ρ = 0.710, respectively).
Findings confirm the use of hunova as a valid device for dynamic balance assessment in MS, suggesting that such a robotic platform could allow for a more sensitive assessment of balance over time, and thus a better evaluation of the effectiveness of personalized treatment, thereby improving evidence-based clinical practice.
机器人设备被认为可以提供关键参数来评估多发性硬化症（MS）中的运动功能，例如动态平衡。然而，仍然缺乏将创新技术与标准解决方案进行比较的验证研究。因此，本研究的目的是比较 50 名多发性硬化症患者（PwMS）在使用黄金标准 EquiTest 和机器人平台 hunova 进行动态任务时的姿势评估，使用压力中心（COP）相关参数和整体平衡指数。
对每个 COP 相关测量值进行 Pearson ρ 相关性分析，并从 EquiTest 和 hunova 在睁眼（EO）和闭眼（EC）条件下计算整体平衡指数。
考虑到 COP 相关参数，EO（0.337≤ρ≤0.653）和 EC（0.344≤ρ≤0.668）条件下的所有相关性均具有统计学意义。此外，Pearson 分析整体平衡指数显示视觉和前庭系统的关联较强（ρ=0.573；ρ=0.494），躯体感觉系统的关联较强（ρ=0.710）。
研究结果证实 hunova 可作为 MS 动态平衡评估的有效设备，表明该机器人平台可以更敏感地随时间评估平衡，从而更好地评估个性化治疗的效果，从而改善基于证据的临床实践。
