scholarly journals Feasibility of a Sensor-Based Technological Platform in Assessing Gait and Sleep of In-Hospital Stroke and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury (iSCI) Patients

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (10) ◽  
pp. 2748
Author(s):  
Maartje M. S. Hendriks ◽  
Marije Vos-van der Hulst ◽  
Noel L. W. Keijsers
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Sensor Data ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Inertial Measurement ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Neurological Patients ◽  
Measurement Units ◽  
Data Error ◽  
Technological Platform

Recovery of the walking function is one of the most common rehabilitation goals of neurological patients. Sufficient and adequate sleep is a prerequisite for recovery or training. To objectively monitor patients’ progress, a combination of different sensors measuring continuously over time is needed. A sensor-based technological platform offers possibilities to monitor gait and sleep. Implementation in clinical practice is of utmost relevance and has scarcely been studied. Therefore, this study examined the feasibility of a sensor-based technological platform within the clinical setting. Participants (12 incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), 13 stroke) were asked to wear inertial measurement units (IMUs) around the ankles during daytime and the bed sensor was placed under their mattress for one week. Feasibility was established based on missing data, error cause, and user experience. Percentage of missing measurement days and nights was 14% and 4%, respectively. Main cause of lost measurement days was related to missing IMU sensor data. Participants were not impeded, did not experience any discomfort, and found the sensors easy to use. The sensor-based technological platform is feasible to use within the clinical rehabilitation setting for continuously monitoring gait and sleep of iSCI and stroke patients.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Shank-to-Vertical Angle While Changing Heel Heights Using a Single Inertial Measurement Unit in Individuals with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury Wearing an Ankle-Foot-Orthosis

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 985
Author(s):  
Lysanne A. F. de Jong ◽  
Yvette L. Kerkum ◽  
Tom de Groot ◽  
Marije Vos-van der Hulst ◽  
Ilse J. W. van Nes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Inertial Measurement Unit ◽  
Measurement Unit ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Vertical Angle ◽  
Inertial Measurement ◽  
Heel Height ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Anterior Side

Previous research showed that an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) on the anterior side of the shank can accurately measure the Shank-to-Vertical Angle (SVA), which is a clinically-used parameter to guide tuning of ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs). However, in this context it is specifically important that differences in the SVA are detected during the tuning process, i.e., when adjusting heel height. This study investigated the validity of the SVA as measured by an IMU and its responsiveness to changes in AFO-footwear combination (AFO-FC) heel height in persons with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). Additionally, the effect of heel height on knee flexion-extension angle and internal moment was evaluated. Twelve persons with an iSCI walked with their own AFO-FC in three different conditions: (1) without a heel wedge (refHH), (2) with 5 mm heel wedge (lowHH) and (3) with 10 mm heel wedge (highHH). Walking was recorded by a single IMU on the anterior side of the shank and a 3D gait analysis (3DGA) simultaneously. To estimate validity, a paired t-test and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) between the SVAIMU and SVA3DGA were calculated for the refHH. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed to evaluate the differences between the heel heights. A good validity with a mean difference smaller than 1 and an ICC above 0.9 was found for the SVA during midstance phase and at midstance. Significant differences between the heel heights were found for changes in SVAIMU (p = 0.036) and knee moment (p = 0.020) during the midstance phase and in SVAIMU (p = 0.042) and SVA3DGA (p = 0.006) at midstance. Post-hoc analysis revealed a significant difference between the ref and high heel height condition for the SVAIMU (p = 0.005) and knee moment (p = 0.006) during the midstance phase and for the SVAIMU (p = 0.010) and SVA3DGA (p = 0.006) at the instant of midstance. The SVA measured with an IMU is valid and responsive to changing heel heights and equivalent to the gold standard 3DGA. The knee joint angle and knee joint moment showed concomitant changes compared to SVA as a result of changing heel height.

Validation of inertial measurement units for the assessment of trunk control in subjects with spinal cord injury

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Alberto Isaac Pérez-Sanpablo ◽  
Jimena Quinzaños-Fresnedo ◽  
Marco Romero-Ixtla ◽  
Ana Valeria Aguirre-Güemez ◽  
Gerardo Rodríguez-Reyes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Inertial Measurement Units ◽  
Trunk Control ◽  
Inertial Measurement ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Measurement Units

Using a saddle-assistive device equipped with mechanical orthosis for walking of the person with incomplete spinal cord injury

2021 ◽  
pp. 095441192110201
Author(s):  
Akbar Hojjati Najafabadi ◽  
Saeid Amini ◽  
Farzam Farahmand
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Reaction Force ◽  
Assistive Devices ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Walking Ability ◽  
Vertical Force ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Combined Application ◽  
Cord Injury

The majority of the people with incomplete spinal cord injury lose their walking ability, due to the weakness of their muscle motors in providing torque. As a result, developing assistive devices to improve their conditionis of great importance. In this study, a combined application of the saddle-assistive device (S-AD) and mechanical medial linkage or thosis was evaluated to improve the walking ability in patients with spinal cord injury in the gait laboratory. This mobile assistive device is called the saddle-assistive device equipped with medial linkage or thosis (S-ADEM). In this device, a mechanical orthosis was used in a wheeled walker as previously done in the literature. Initially, for evaluation of the proposed assistive device, the experimental results related to the forces and torques exerted on the feet and upper limbs of a person with the incomplete Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) during walking usingthe standard walker were compared with an those obtained from using the S-ADEM on an able-bodied subject. It was found that using this combination of assistive devices decreases the vertical force and torque on the foot at the time of walking by 53% and 48%, respectively compared to a standard walker. Moreover, the hand-reaction force on the upper limb was negligible instanding and walking positions usingthe introduced device. The findings of this study revealed that the walking ability of the patients with incomplete SCI was improved using the proposed device, which is due to the bodyweight support and the motion technology used in it.

scholarly journals An Inertial Measurement Unit-Based Wireless System for Shoulder Motion Assessment in Patients with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury: A Validation Pilot Study in a Clinical Setting

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 1057
Author(s):  
Riccardo Bravi ◽  
Stefano Caputo ◽  
Sara Jayousi ◽  
Alessio Martinelli ◽  
Lorenzo Biotti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Clinical Setting ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord ◽  
Wearable Sensors ◽  
Cervical Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Measurement Unit ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Inertial Measurement ◽  
Cord Injury

Residual motion of upper limbs in individuals who experienced cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) is vital to achieve functional independence. Several interventions were developed to restore shoulder range of motion (ROM) in CSCI patients. However, shoulder ROM assessment in clinical practice is commonly limited to use of a simple goniometer. Conventional goniometric measurements are operator-dependent and require significant time and effort. Therefore, innovative technology for supporting medical personnel in objectively and reliably measuring the efficacy of treatments for shoulder ROM in CSCI patients would be extremely desirable. This study evaluated the validity of a customized wireless wearable sensors (Inertial Measurement Units—IMUs) system for shoulder ROM assessment in CSCI patients in clinical setting. Eight CSCI patients and eight healthy controls performed four shoulder movements (forward flexion, abduction, and internal and external rotation) with dominant arm. Every movement was evaluated with a goniometer by different testers and with the IMU system at the same time. Validity was evaluated by comparing IMUs and goniometer measurements using Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Limits of Agreement (LOA). inter-tester reliability of IMUs and goniometer measurements was also investigated. Preliminary results provide essential information on the accuracy of the proposed wireless wearable sensors system in acquiring objective measurements of the shoulder movements in CSCI patients.

scholarly journals Ambulatory assistive devices and walking performance in patients with incomplete spinal cord injury

Spinal Cord ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Saensook ◽  
S Phonthee ◽  
K Srisim ◽  
L Mato ◽  
P Wattanapan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Assistive Devices ◽  
Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Walking Performance
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