What are the optimal walking tests to assess disability progression

Therapy success is assumed when there is no evidence of disease activity, and especially no evidence of disability progression. Gait analysis plays a major role as gait impairment is considered by patients as the most disabling symptom [1]. Monitoring this phenomenon is thus important in the clinical setting. But how should we do this? By selecting an appropriate technology, it is possible to measure many spatiotemporal gait parameters, describing both the swing and stance phases, even during long tests (e.g. 6min, 500m), without equipping patients with markers or sensors. Comfortable (at self selected speed), as fast as possible, and heel-to-toe (tandem) walking are typical tests. In this work, we determine if there is an advantage to perform various walking tests (in a reasonable amount of acquisition time), and which test or combination of tests is the most informative about the patient state. We focus on the ability to take objective decisions based on the measured gait parameters. Method