Rates, patterns, and correlates of fitness tracker use among older adults with multiple sclerosis

Use of wearables among Multiple Sclerosis patients and healthcare Professionals: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an increasingly prevalent chronic, autoimmune, and inflammatory central nervous system illness, whose common symptoms undermine the quality of life of patients and their families. Recent technical breakthroughs potentially offer continuous, reliable, sensitive, and objective remote monitoring solutions for healthcare. Wearables can be useful for evaluating falls, fatigue, sedentary behavior, exercise, and sleep quality in people with MS (PwMS).

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review of relevant literature explores studies investigating the perceptions of patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) about the use of wearable technologies in the management of MS.

METHODS

The Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews was used. The search strategy was applied to the databases, MEDLINE via Ovid, Embase, APA PsycInfo, and CINAHL. Further searches were performed in IEEE, Scopus, and Web of Science. The review considered studies reporting quantitative or qualitative data on perceptions and experiences of PwMS and HCPs concerning wearables' usability, satisfaction, barriers, and facilitators.

RESULTS

10 studies were included in this review. Wearables' usefulness and accessibility, ease of use, awareness, and motivational tool potential were patient-perceived facilitators of use. Barriers related to anxiety and frustration, complexity, and the design of wearables. Perceived usefulness and system requirements are identified as facilitators of using wearables by HCPs, while data security concerns and fears of increased workload and limited effectiveness in the care plan are identified as barriers to use wearables.

CONCLUSIONS

This review contributes to our understanding of the benefits of wearable technologies in MS by exploring perceptions of both PwMS and HCPs. The scoping review provided a broad overview of facilitators and barriers to wearable use in MS. There is a need for further studies underlined with sound theoretical frameworks to provide a robust evidence-base for the optimal use of wearables to empower healthcare users and providers.

Wearable Sensor Technologies to Assess Motor Functions in People With Multiple Sclerosis: Systematic Scoping Review and Perspective

BACKGROUND

Wearable sensor technologies have the potential to improve monitoring in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and inform timely disease management decisions. Evidence of the utility of wearable sensor technologies in people with MS is accumulating but is generally limited to specific subgroups of patients, clinical or laboratory settings, and functional domains.

OBJECTIVE

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of all studies that have used wearable sensors to assess, monitor, and quantify motor function in people with MS during daily activities or in a controlled laboratory setting and to shed light on the technological advances over the past decades.

METHODS

We systematically reviewed studies on wearable sensors to assess the motor performance of people with MS. We scanned PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases until December 31, 2022, considering search terms "multiple sclerosis" and those associated with wearable technologies and included all studies assessing motor functions. The types of results from relevant studies were systematically mapped into 9 predefined categories (association with clinical scores or other measures; test-retest reliability; group differences, 3 types; responsiveness to change or intervention; and acceptability to study participants), and the reporting quality was determined through 9 questions. We followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) reporting guidelines.

RESULTS

Of the 1251 identified publications, 308 were included: 176 (57.1%) in a real-world context, 107 (34.7%) in a laboratory context, and 25 (8.1%) in a mixed context. Most publications studied physical activity (196/308, 63.6%), followed by gait (81/308, 26.3%), dexterity or tremor (38/308, 12.3%), and balance (34/308, 11%). In the laboratory setting, outcome measures included (in addition to clinical severity scores) 2- and 6-minute walking tests, timed 25-foot walking test, timed up and go, stair climbing, balance tests, and finger-to-nose test, among others. The most popular anatomical landmarks for wearable placement were the waist, wrist, and lower back. Triaxial accelerometers were most commonly used (229/308, 74.4%). A surge in the number of sensors embedded in smartphones and smartwatches has been observed. Overall, the reporting quality was good.

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous monitoring with wearable sensors could optimize the management of people with MS, but some hurdles still exist to full clinical adoption of digital monitoring. Despite a possible publication bias and vast heterogeneity in the outcomes reported, our review provides an overview of the current literature on wearable sensor technologies used for people with MS and highlights shortcomings, such as the lack of harmonization, transparency in reporting methods and results, and limited data availability for the research community. These limitations need to be addressed for the growing implementation of wearable sensor technologies in clinical routine and clinical trials, which is of utmost importance for further progress in clinical research and daily management of people with MS.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42021243249; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=243249.

Objective and subjective measures of daily physical activity in persons with Multiple Sclerosis beginning a rehabilitation regime: A cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

Fatigue, and balance and gait disorders can impact on physical activity (PA) levels in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS). To date, several studies have examined PA in pwMS during daily life, but little is known about PA levels in pwMS during a rehabilitation period. The present study investigated PA levels (daily steps, light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA)) in inpatient and outpatients with MS during their rehabilitation period and described the relationship between objectively measured PA and levels of disability, quality of life, fatigue, and self-efficacy.

METHODS

In this exploratory cross-sectional study, we examined 40 pwMS during their inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation regime. Participants included in the study (N = 34) wore a Fitbit Versa tracker for one week recording daily steps, minutes of LPA, and minutes of MVPA (primary outcomes). They underwent a clinical assessment of physical activity levels (Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire(GLTEQ)), fatigue (Fatigue Severity Scale(FSS)), walking ability (10 Meter Walk Test(10MWT), 2-Min Walk Test(2MWT), 12-item Multiple Sclerosis Walking scale(MSWS-12)), quality of life (12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12)), and self-efficacy (Self-Efficacy in Multiple Sclerosis scale (SEMS)) (secondary outcomes). Multiple linear regressions (MLR) models were used to test whether the demographic difference between the two groups influenced the estimation of objective variables measured by Fitbit. Finally, correlations between objectively measured physical activity and subjective clinical scales were estimated with Spearman correlations.

RESULTS

Our sample consisted of 21 females and 13 males with a mean (interquartile range) age of 52 (20) years and an Expanded Disability Status scale(EDSS) score of 6.0 (1.50) points; baseline characteristics of inpatients (N = 18) and outpatients (N = 16) differed statistically only in EDSS levels (p-value = 0.008) and use of assistive devices (p=0.007). The whole sample performed (mean±standard deviation) 3969±2190 steps per day, with no significant difference between inpatients (3318±1515) and outpatients (4660±2606). No statistical difference was found between the groups in LPA (p-value=0.064). A significant difference in MVPA (p-value < 0.001) was found between inpatients and outpatients, 1.52±3.98 and 14.69±11.56 min per day, respectively. Significant correlations were found between FSS and MVPA both in the whole sample (r(32)= -0.62, p < 0.001) and in the outpatients group (r(14) = -0.66, p = 0.005), and between 10MWT and daily steps (whole sample:(r(32) = 0.48, p = 0.005), outpatients:(r(14)= -0.51, p = 0.05)).

CONCLUSIONS

PwMS in our study overall engaged in reduced and less intense levels of daily PA with respect to the guidelines with inpatients performing almost no vigorous activities. Considering the importance of PA in improving physical and mental well-being, clinicians and researchers should develope strategies to increase daily PA of PwMS during their rehabilitation programs and daily life.

Pedometers and Accelerometers in Multiple Sclerosis: Current and New Applications

Pedometers and accelerometers have become commonplace for the assessment of physical behaviors (e.g., physical activity and sedentary behavior) in multiple sclerosis (MS) research. Current common applications include the measurement of steps taken and the classification of physical activity intensity, as well as sedentary behavior, using cut-points methods. The existing knowledge and applications, coupled with technological advances, have spawned new opportunities for using those motion sensors in persons with MS, and these include the utilization of the data as biomarkers of disease severity and progression, perhaps in clinical practice. Herein, we discuss the current state of knowledge on the validity and applications of pedometers and accelerometers in MS, as well as new opportunities and strategies for the improved assessment of physical behaviors and disease progression, and consequently, personalized care.

How to manage with telemedicine people with neuromuscular diseases?

INTRODUCTION

COVID-19 pandemic radically transformed our daily clinical practice, raising the need not to lose close contact with patients without being able to see them face-to-face. These issues are even more felt and evident in fragile patients, as those affected by neuromuscular disease. An important help came from new digital technologies that allow clinicians to remotely monitor health status and any deterioration of chronically ill patients.

METHODS

In this mini-review, an initiative of the "Digital Technologies, Web and Social Media Study Group" of the Italian Society of Neurology, we propose to analyze the approach to neuromuscular patients by looking over raising evidence on the main cornerstones of Telemedicine (TM): clinician-patient interaction, remote clinical assessment, remote monitoring, and digital therapeutics. In particular, we explored the strategies developed by researchers and their impact on the physical and emotional status of the patients, with particular focusing on their adherence to the program of virtual monitoring.

RESULTS

TM plays an important role in each of four stages of approach to neuromuscular disease, having demonstrated validity in keep close clinical patient interaction, clinical assessment, remote monitoring, and telerehabilitation. Nevertheless, there is no remote alternative to electrophysiological testing neither validate tools to assess disability.

CONCLUSION

The role of TM in neuromuscular care is yet underestimated but is crucial, beyond the pandemic era. Further development of TM is advisable, through making specific apps, remotely controlled by clinicians, and making more engaging clinicians-patients interaction. Last, it is necessary to ensure adequate internet access to everyone.