scholarly journals Exploring Risk of Falls and Dynamic Unbalance in Cerebellar Ataxia by Inertial Sensor Assessment

Sensors ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (24) ◽  
pp. 5571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pietro Caliandro ◽  
Carmela Conte ◽  
Chiara Iacovelli ◽  
Antonella Tatarelli ◽  
Stefano Filippo Castiglia ◽  
...  

Background. Patients suffering from cerebellar ataxia have extremely variable gait kinematic features. We investigated whether and how wearable inertial sensors can describe the gait kinematic features among ataxic patients. Methods. We enrolled 17 patients and 16 matched control subjects. We acquired data by means of an inertial sensor attached to an ergonomic belt around pelvis, which was connected to a portable computer via Bluetooth. Recordings of all the patients were obtained during overground walking. From the accelerometric data, we obtained the harmonic ratio (HR), i.e., a measure of the acceleration patterns, smoothness and rhythm, and the step length coefficient of variation (CV), which evaluates the variability of the gait cycle. Results. Compared to controls, patients had a lower HR, meaning a less harmonic and rhythmic acceleration pattern of the trunk, and a higher step length CV, indicating a more variable step length. Both HR and step length CV showed a high effect size in distinguishing patients and controls (p < 0.001 and p = 0.011, respectively). A positive correlation was found between the step length CV and both the number of falls (R = 0.672; p = 0.003) and the clinical severity (ICARS: R = 0.494; p = 0.044; SARA: R = 0.680; p = 0.003). Conclusion. These findings demonstrate that the use of inertial sensors is effective in evaluating gait and balance impairment among ataxic patients.

IoT ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 360-381
Author(s):  
Matthew T. O. Worsey ◽  
Hugo G. Espinosa ◽  
Jonathan B. Shepherd ◽  
David V. Thiel

Machine learning is a powerful tool for data classification and has been used to classify movement data recorded by wearable inertial sensors in general living and sports. Inertial sensors can provide valuable biofeedback in combat sports such as boxing; however, the use of such technology has not had a global uptake. If simple inertial sensor configurations can be used to automatically classify strike type, then cumbersome tasks such as video labelling can be bypassed and the foundation for automated workload monitoring of combat sport athletes is set. This investigation evaluates the classification performance of six different supervised machine learning models (tuned and untuned) when using two simple inertial sensor configurations (configuration 1—inertial sensor worn on both wrists; configuration 2—inertial sensor worn on both wrists and third thoracic vertebrae [T3]). When trained on one athlete, strike prediction accuracy was good using both configurations (sensor configuration 1 mean overall accuracy: 0.90 ± 0.12; sensor configuration 2 mean overall accuracy: 0.87 ± 0.09). There was no significant statistical difference in prediction accuracy between both configurations and tuned and untuned models (p > 0.05). Moreover, there was no significant statistical difference in computational training time for tuned and untuned models (p > 0.05). For sensor configuration 1, a support vector machine (SVM) model with a Gaussian rbf kernel performed the best (accuracy = 0.96), for sensor configuration 2, a multi-layered perceptron neural network (MLP-NN) model performed the best (accuracy = 0.98). Wearable inertial sensors can be used to accurately classify strike-type in boxing pad work, this means that cumbersome tasks such as video and notational analysis can be bypassed. Additionally, automated workload and performance monitoring of athletes throughout training camp is possible. Future investigations will evaluate the performance of this algorithm on a greater sample size and test the influence of impact window-size on prediction accuracy. Additionally, supervised machine learning models should be trained on data collected during sparring to see if high accuracy holds in a competition setting. This can help move closer towards automatic scoring in boxing.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Abeer A. Badawi ◽  
Ahmad Al-Kabbany ◽  
Heba A. Shaban

This research addresses the challenge of recognizing human daily activities using surface electromyography (sEMG) and wearable inertial sensors. Effective and efficient recognition in this context has emerged as a cornerstone in robust remote health monitoring systems, among other applications. We propose a novel pipeline that can attain state-of-the-art recognition accuracies on a recent-and-standard dataset—the Human Gait Database (HuGaDB). Using wearable gyroscopes, accelerometers, and electromyography sensors placed on the thigh, shin, and foot, we developed an approach that jointly performs sensor fusion and feature selection. Being done jointly, the proposed pipeline empowers the learned model to benefit from the interaction of features that might have been dropped otherwise. Using statistical and time-based features from heterogeneous signals of the aforementioned sensor types, our approach attains a mean accuracy of 99.8%, which is the highest accuracy on HuGaDB in the literature. This research underlines the potential of incorporating EMG signals especially when fusion and selection are done simultaneously. Meanwhile, it is valid even with simple off-the-shelf feature selection methods such the Sequential Feature Selection family of algorithms. Moreover, through extensive simulations, we show that the left thigh is a key placement for attaining high accuracies. With one inertial sensor on that single placement alone, we were able to achieve a mean accuracy of 98.4%. The presented in-depth comparative analysis shows the influence that every sensor type, position, and placement can have on the attained recognition accuracies—a tool that can facilitate the development of robust systems, customized to specific scenarios and real-life applications.


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 2660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Alexander Storm ◽  
Ambra Cesareo ◽  
Gianluigi Reni ◽  
Emilia Biffi

Wearable sensors are becoming increasingly popular for complementing classical clinical assessments of gait deficits. The aim of this review is to examine the existing knowledge by systematically reviewing a large number of papers focusing on the use of wearable inertial sensors for the assessment of gait during the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), a widely recognized, simple, non-invasive, low-cost and reproducible exercise test. After a systematic search on PubMed and Scopus databases, two raters evaluated the quality of 28 full-text articles. Then, the available knowledge was summarized regarding study design, subjects enrolled (number of patients and pathological condition, if any, age, male/female ratio), sensor characteristics (type, number, sampling frequency, range) and body placement, 6MWT protocol and extracted parameters. Results were critically discussed to suggest future directions for the use of inertial sensor devices in the clinics.


2015 ◽  
Vol 772 ◽  
pp. 329-333
Author(s):  
Ali Soroush ◽  
Farzam Farahmand

The aim of this study was to determine the workspace of surgeon's body for designing more efficient surgical robots in the operation rooms. Five wearable inertial sensors were placed near the wrist and elbow joints and also on the thorax of surgeons to track the orientation of upper limb. Assuming that the lengths of five segments of an upper limb were known, measurements of the inertial sensors were used to determine the position of the wrist and elbow joints via an established kinematic model. subsequently, to assess the workspace of surgeon upper body, raw data were collected in the arthroscopy and laparoscopy operations. Experimental results demonstrated that the workspaces of surgeon's joints are limited and predefined. The results can be used for designing surgical robots and surgeon body supports.


Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (24) ◽  
pp. 7143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dylan Kobsar ◽  
Zaryan Masood ◽  
Heba Khan ◽  
Noha Khalil ◽  
Marium Yossri Kiwan ◽  
...  

Our objective was to conduct a scoping review which summarizes the growing body of literature using wearable inertial sensors for gait analysis in lower limb osteoarthritis. We searched six databases using predetermined search terms which highlighted the broad areas of inertial sensors, gait, and osteoarthritis. Two authors independently conducted title and abstract reviews, followed by two authors independently completing full-text screenings. Study quality was also assessed by two independent raters and data were extracted by one reviewer in areas such as study design, osteoarthritis sample, protocols, and inertial sensor outcomes. A total of 72 articles were included, which studied the gait of 2159 adults with osteoarthritis (OA) using inertial sensors. The most common location of OA studied was the knee (n = 46), followed by the hip (n = 22), and the ankle (n = 7). The back (n = 41) and the shank (n = 40) were the most common placements for inertial sensors. The three most prevalent biomechanical outcomes studied were: mean spatiotemporal parameters (n = 45), segment or joint angles (n = 33), and linear acceleration magnitudes (n = 22). Our findings demonstrate exceptional growth in this field in the last 5 years. Nevertheless, there remains a need for more longitudinal study designs, patient-specific models, free-living assessments, and a push for “Code Reuse” to maximize the unique capabilities of these devices and ultimately improve how we diagnose and treat this debilitating disease.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (19) ◽  
pp. 6377
Author(s):  
Roger Lee ◽  
Carole James ◽  
Suzi Edwards ◽  
Geoff Skinner ◽  
Jodi L. Young ◽  
...  

Background: Wearable inertial sensor technology (WIST) systems provide feedback, aiming to modify aberrant postures and movements. The literature on the effects of feedback from WIST during work or work-related activities has not been previously summarised. This review examines the effectiveness of feedback on upper body kinematics during work or work-related activities, along with the wearability and a quantification of the kinematics of the related device. Methods: The Cinahl, Cochrane, Embase, Medline, Scopus, Sportdiscus and Google Scholar databases were searched, including reports from January 2005 to July 2021. The included studies were summarised descriptively and the evidence was assessed. Results: Fourteen included studies demonstrated a ‘limited’ level of evidence supporting posture and/or movement behaviour improvements using WIST feedback, with no improvements in pain. One study assessed wearability and another two investigated comfort. Studies used tri-axial accelerometers or IMU integration (n = 5 studies). Visual and/or vibrotactile feedback was mostly used. Most studies had a risk of bias, lacked detail for methodological reproducibility and displayed inconsistent reporting of sensor technology, with validation provided only in one study. Thus, we have proposed a minimum ‘Technology and Design Checklist’ for reporting. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that WIST may improve posture, though not pain; however, the quality of the studies limits the strength of this conclusion. Wearability evaluations are needed for the translation of WIST outcomes. Minimum reporting standards for WIST should be followed to ensure methodological reproducibility.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (7) ◽  
pp. e0254813
Author(s):  
Eloise V. Briggs ◽  
Claudia Mazzà

Detection of hoof-on and -off events are essential to gait classification in horses. Wearable sensors have been endorsed as a convenient alternative to the traditional force plate-based method. The aim of this study was to propose and validate inertial sensor-based methods of gait event detection, reviewing different sensor locations and their performance on different gaits and exercise surfaces. Eleven horses of various breeds and ages were recruited to wear inertial sensors attached to the hooves, pasterns and cannons. Gait events detected by pastern and cannon methods were compared to the reference, hoof-detected events. Walk and trot strides were recorded on asphalt, grass and sand. Pastern-based methods were found to be the most accurate and precise for detecting gait events, incurring mean errors of between 1 and 6ms, depending on the limb and gait, on asphalt. These methods incurred consistent errors when used to measure stance durations on all surfaces, with mean errors of 0.1 to 1.16% of a stride cycle. In conclusion, the methods developed and validated here will enable future studies to reliably detect equine gait events using inertial sensors, under a wide variety of field conditions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 3844-3851 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Wang ◽  
Yun Sun ◽  
Qingguo Li ◽  
Tao Liu

Author(s):  
Jian Hui Ooi ◽  
Darwin Gouwanda

Objective evaluation is essential in sports to monitor athlete performance, provide relevant and timely feedback, and minimize the risk of injury. Activity recognition is the first step in sport skill and technique performance analysis. This study investigated the use of wearable inertial sensors and a neural network (NN) to identify badminton strokes. The study also explored the effect of different NN configurations and a different number of sensors on the classification. Sensors were placed at the dominant wrist, left ankle, and right ankle. Six different strokes, ranging from soft hitting net shots to smashes, were performed with a total of 3300 repetitions from six well-trained badminton players. An automated window segmentation method was developed to identify the stroke instances. A scaled conjugate gradient training algorithm with two hidden layers and 55 neurons in each layer was found to be the best approach to classify badminton strokes with an accuracy of 97.69%. Even just wearing the inertial sensor on the wrist was sufficient, providing an accuracy of 95.09%. These results demonstrate the viability of using inertial sensors and NN to recognize badminton strokes, which can be applied in training and competitive environments.


Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 457
Author(s):  
Neil D. Reeves ◽  
Giorgio Orlando ◽  
Steven J. Brown

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is associated with peripheral sensory and motor nerve damage that affects up to half of diabetes patients and is an independent risk factor for falls. Clinical implications of DPN-related falls include injury, psychological distress and physical activity curtailment. This review describes how the sensory and motor deficits associated with DPN underpin biomechanical alterations to the pattern of walking (gait), which contribute to balance impairments underpinning falls. Changes to gait with diabetes occur even before the onset of measurable DPN, but changes become much more marked with DPN. Gait impairments with diabetes and DPN include alterations to walking speed, step length, step width and joint ranges of motion. These alterations also impact the rotational forces around joints known as joint moments, which are reduced as part of a natural strategy to lower the muscular demands of gait to compensate for lower strength capacities due to diabetes and DPN. Muscle weakness and atrophy are most striking in patients with DPN, but also present in non-neuropathic diabetes patients, affecting not only distal muscles of the foot and ankle, but also proximal thigh muscles. Insensate feet with DPN cause a delayed neuromuscular response immediately following foot–ground contact during gait and this is a major factor contributing to increased falls risk. Pronounced balance impairments measured in the gait laboratory are only seen in DPN patients and not non-neuropathic diabetes patients. Self-perception of unsteadiness matches gait laboratory measures and can distinguish between patients with and without DPN. Diabetic foot ulcers and their associated risk factors including insensate feet with DPN and offloading devices further increase falls risk. Falls prevention strategies based on sensory and motor mechanisms should target those most at risk of falls with DPN, with further research needed to optimise interventions.


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