Interventional Feasibility Study Investigating Virtual Reality‐Based Gait Assessment With Orthoses in People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Study Protocol

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis (MS) often leads to significant impairments in gait and mobility. Although walking braces are commonly prescribed, their real‐world effectiveness is limited by insufficient adaptation. Traditional clinical assessments rely on subjective scales and may not fully reflect daily‐life challenges. Immersive virtual reality (VR) and wearable sensors offer promising solutions for ecological monitoring, but their combined use remains unvalidated for orthotic support in MS. This interventional study examines the feasibility of a novel, VR‐based framework designed to support gait assessment with a passive walking brace. Twelve participants with MS will undergo a protocol combining four ambulatory sessions and a week‐long home‐monitoring phase. Standardized gait tests will be performed with and without the brace across both simulated scenarios and real‐world conditions. Multimodal data collected via inertial and physiological wearable sensors will characterize spatiotemporal gait parameters, balance, posture, and physiological responses, alongside standardized clinical scales and subjective questionnaires. Overall feasibility will be evaluated directly through user usability and acceptability, recruitment and retention rates, safety, protocol adherence, and data completeness. Given that this pilot study is not powered to assess clinical efficacy, statistical analysis will focus strictly on descriptive and exploratory comparisons across conditions and sessions. This translational framework aims to establish robust feasibility metrics to support the design of future, larger‐scale controlled trials. Ultimately, these preliminary observations will inform more ecologically valid, personalized rehabilitation strategies to improve the integration of assistive technologies into patients' daily lives.