IMU-based workspace area as a promising complementary tool to assess upper limb function in Neuromuscular diseases: A one-year follow-up

AimTo evaluate the longitudinal performance of inertial measurement unit (IMU)-based workspace metrics as a complementary tool to standard clinical scales for monitoring upper limb function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).MethodsEighteen children and adolescents (10 DMD, 8 SMA) previously assessed at baseline underwent a one-year follow-up evaluation. Functional status was measured using disease-specific clinical scales (Performance of Upper Limb [PUL] for DMD; Revised Upper Limb Module [RULM] for SMA) combined with IMU-based kinematic analysis. Longitudinal changes in IMU-derived variables were compared with the evolution of clinical scores.ResultsOverall, IMU-based metrics showed longitudinal trends broadly comparable to those observed with clinical scales, with most participants remaining stable over 12 months. Minor individual discrepancies occurred in a few cases, and only two individuals exhibited a clear divergence between IMU-derived measures and clinical scale scores.InterpretationIMU-based workspace analysis is feasible and showed meaningful associations with established functional assessments in pediatric neuromuscular disorders. These findings support its further evaluation as a complementary tool for longitudinal monitoring and highlight its potential future role in both clinical trials and routine follow-up.