Standard versus innovative robotic balance assessment for people with multiple sclerosis: a correlational study

Abstract

Introduction: Balance disorders are common in people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) and, together with other impairments and disabilities, often prevent PwMS from performing their daily living activities. Besides clinical scales and performance tests, robotic platforms can provide more sensitive, specific, and objective monitoring. Validated technologies have been adopted as gold standard, but innovative robotic solutions would represent an opportunity to detect balance impairment in PwMS. Aim: Study’s aim was to compare postural assessment of 46 PwMS with a relapsing–remitting form during static tasks performed with the novel robotic platform hunova® and the gold standard EquiTest®, Methods: Pearson’s r was run on Center of Pressure (COP)-related parameters and global static balance measures computed from hunova® and EquiTest® in eyes-open (EO) and eyes-closed (EC) conditions. In addition, agreeableness level toward the use of both devices was tested through numeric rating scale. Results: Considering COP-related parameters, correlations were significant for all measures (p