Test of Aquatic Mobility of SMA Infants

This is a multicenter research project coordinated by the Child Neuromuscular Unit at Raymond Poincaré Hospital. Additionally, two other pediatric neurology departments, part of the national neuromuscular network FILNEMUS (https://www.filnemus.fr/), will participate in the study: Necker Children's Hospital and Armand Trousseau Hospital.

The study's population will include all infants diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), specifically SMA type 1, who have onset before 6 months of age and have been evaluated by the French Therapeutic Commission. Participation in the study will be contingent on parental or guardian consent during follow-up visits.

Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic neurodegenerative condition that affects spinal motor neurons, causing motor and respiratory paralysis and ultimately leading to death. As groundbreaking therapies emerge, there's an increasing need to refine the methods used to assess motor function, especially in infants with severe hypotonia due to SMA type 1. Traditional reference scales used on examination tables are limited in their accuracy because of gravitational effects. Consequently, there's growing interest in evaluating these children's motor skills in water to detect movements unburdened by gravity. Pediatric neurologists in France (SFNP) have already acknowledged the potential value of parental video recordings during infant baths. However, the lack of standardization in recording conditions, coupled with the subjective nature of video interpretations, underscores the necessity for a more standardized and quantifiable approach. Herein lies the application of our proposed evaluation utilizing inertial sensors.

Utilizing inertial sensors to detect subtle movements can highlight still-active yet minimally functional motor neurons. Such detection can be pivotal in identifying children who, despite severe motor skill limitations in traditional settings, still possess developmental potential. Our study seeks to leverage these sensors-equipped with accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers-to carry out evaluations both in ''dry'' conditions and ''water'' conditions, using a specially designed, secure bathtub.

The study aims to validate the relevance of quantifying movements in aquatic settings using inertial sensors, in order to assess motor function in very hypotonic children. Additionally, this study will contribute to the development of a semi-quantitative clinical evaluation grid for assessing infant motor function in water, assisting physicians in making more informed therapeutic decisions for these children. Data obtained from measurements with inertial sensors in both environments ("dry" and "water") will be correlated with scores from validated motor scales (CHOP INTEND; HINE-2) and the clinical characteristics of the patients (e.g., age, disease duration, SMA type, SMN2 copies, severity, CMAPs [EMG]). Anamnestic, clinical and inertial data will be anonymized.

The equipment required for the protocol comprises an examination table, a bath, a support for the head and back (https://www.neut.fr/fr/), 8 CE-validated Xsens DOT© inertial sensors, a dedicated research smartphone with the Xsens DOT© application for data export, a camera mounted on a pole connected to an acquisition tablet. The study will utilize a fixed PC computer with secure access, located in a dedicated research room within the Pediatric Neurology and Intensive Care Unit at Raymond Poincaré Hospital.

Video recording throughout the evaluation will be carried out from an overhead perspective, capturing all four limbs in the frame and ensuring that the child occupies approximately 50% of the camera's field of vision. To comply with privacy regulations (MR-001), the videos will obscure any identifying features, such as faces or other body parts of the patients. These videos will serve as a reference for controlling and validating the data collected by the inertial sensors.

The study's outputs will include inertial data from 8 inertial sensors placed on the arms (2), forearms (2), thighs (2), and legs (2). Our motor evaluation process is split into two distinct phases, totaling 6 minutes: a "dry" phase affected by gravity, and a "water" phase where gravity's effects are mitigated. The surrounding time is allocated for essential tasks such as positioning the child, fitting the sensors, and ensuring the infant's comfort throughout the process. Notably, our study doesn't seek to alter the standard care or therapeutic decisions for the participants.

The measurements will follow a specific process:

• "Dry" phase: This involves evaluating limb movements under the constraints of gravity. The child is placed in a supine position on the examination table set horizontally (0°). To minimize signal artifacts, physical contact with the child should be avoided. If the child's behavior is unfavorable (e.g., crying), the measurement is paused and resumed once the child's condition stabilizes. Spontaneous or induced movements are collected for 2 minutes, with the entire duration filmed for monitoring the inertial sensor data.
• Intermediate phase: The diaper is removed, and the child is positioned in a support inclined at 20°, then transferred to the bathtub. This transition should be made in a reassuring manner for the child, respecting their pace of adaptation.
• "Water" phase: This phase involves evaluating limb movements without gravity constraints. Spontaneous or induced movements are collected for 4 minutes, with the entire duration filmed for monitoring the inertial sensor data. Measurements may also be paused and resumed based on the child's behavior.

The processes of sensor installation and sensor removal are accompanied by sensorimotor stimulation.