Physical Activity Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis

Physical activity assessment in multiple sclerosis (MS) has evolved from sporadic laboratory tests to continuous, real-world monitoring, reflecting the need to capture day-to-day fluctuations in mobility and fatigue. Traditional clinical assessments, such as timed walking tests and self-report questionnaires, provide valuable but limited snapshots of performance under controlled conditions. Advances in sensor technology and digital health now enable objective, longitudinal tracking of parameters such as step count, gait speed, cadence and activity intensity in natural environments. Wearable devices and smartphones collect data passively, offering insights into behavioural markers of disability progression, treatment response and daily function. These approaches can distinguish levels of impairment, detect early changes before they are apparent in clinic and guide personalised rehabilitation strategies. Integration of sensor-derived metrics with patient-reported outcomes and clinical scales enhances ecological validity and supports the design of more sensitive trial endpoints. Globally, remote monitoring holds promise for improving access to care, informing telemedicine and reducing the burden of frequent clinic visits. By harmonising methods, ensuring transparent reporting and addressing barriers to long-term adherence, the field is moving towards standardised protocols that can inform clinical practice, evaluate interventions and empower people with MS to manage their condition more effectively.

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Physical Activity Assessment in Multiple Sclerosis publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in physical activity assessment in multiple sclerosis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Wearable sensors: Portable devices equipped with motion, physiological or environmental monitors that collect data continuously in real-world settings.

Accelerometer: A sensor that measures acceleration forces, commonly used to infer step count, gait characteristics and activity intensity.

Free-living conditions: Unstructured, daily environments in which individuals carry out normal activities, outside of clinical or laboratory settings.

Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS): A clinician-administered scale quantifying neurological impairment and disability in people with MS on a 0–10 ordinal range.

Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA): Levels of activity intensity that elevate heart rate and respiration, often defined by sensor-based threshold values.

References

1. Modeling multiple sclerosis using mobile and wearable sensor data. npj Digital Medicine (2024).
2. Non-equivalent, but still valid: Establishing the construct validity of a consumer fitness tracker in persons with multiple sclerosis. PLOS Digital Health (2023).
3. Wearable Sensor Technologies to Assess Motor Functions in People With Multiple Sclerosis: Systematic Scoping Review and Perspective. Journal of Medical Internet Research (2023).
4. Feasibility and scalability of a fitness tracker study: Results from a longitudinal analysis of persons with multiple sclerosis. Frontiers in Digital Health (2023).