1
|
Sikandar T, Rabbi MF, Ghazali KH, Altwijri O, Almijalli M, Ahamed NU. Minimum number of inertial measurement units needed to identify significant variations in walk patterns of overweight individuals walking on irregular surfaces. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16177. [PMID: 37758958 PMCID: PMC10533530 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43428-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Gait data collection from overweight individuals walking on irregular surfaces is a challenging task that can be addressed using inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors. However, it is unclear how many IMUs are needed, particularly when body attachment locations are not standardized. In this study, we analysed data collected from six body locations, including the torso, upper and lower limbs, to determine which locations exhibit significant variation across different real-world irregular surfaces. We then used deep learning method to verify whether the IMU data recorded from the identified body locations could classify walk patterns across the surfaces. Our results revealed two combinations of body locations, including the thigh and shank (i.e., the left and right shank, and the right thigh and right shank), from which IMU data should be collected to accurately classify walking patterns over real-world irregular surfaces (with classification accuracies of 97.24 and 95.87%, respectively). Our findings suggest that the identified numbers and locations of IMUs could potentially reduce the amount of data recorded and processed to develop a fall prevention system for overweight individuals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tasriva Sikandar
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of Malaysia Pahang, 26600, Pekan, Malaysia
| | - Mohammad Fazle Rabbi
- School of Health Sciences and Social Work, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, 4222, Australia
| | - Kamarul Hawari Ghazali
- Faculty of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, University of Malaysia Pahang, 26600, Pekan, Malaysia
| | - Omar Altwijri
- Biomedical Technology Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Almijalli
- Biomedical Technology Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bzdúšková D, Marko M, Hirjaková Z, Riečanský I, Kimijanová J. Fear of heights shapes postural responses to vibration-induced balance perturbation at virtual height. Front Hum Neurosci 2023; 17:1229484. [PMID: 37771346 PMCID: PMC10523023 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2023.1229484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Standing upright at height is a challenging situation involving intense threat of balance loss and fall. The ability to maintain balance in such conditions requires properly resolving sensory conflicts and is influenced by fear. To get more insight on the role of fear in balance control at height, we explored the dynamics of postural behavior in the situation of enhanced threat of potential balance loss. Methods In 40 young individuals with varying fear of heights, we combined simulated exposure to height in a virtual reality environment with bilateral vibration of tibialis anterior muscles which evokes posture destabilization (the so-called vibration-induced falling). Results Under such condition of enhanced postural threat, individuals with intense fear of heights showed stronger stiffening of posture compared with individuals with low fear of heights who react more flexibly and adaptively to posture destabilization. This group difference was evident already at ground level but further increased during virtual height exposure. Discussion Our data show that fear of height significantly affects posture adaptation to balance-destabilizing events. Our findings demonstrate that the assessment of postural behavior during threatening situations in the virtual reality environment provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of balance control and may be used to develop novel strategies aimed at prevention of falls.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Bzdúšková
- Department of Behavioural Neuroscience, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Martin Marko
- Department of Behavioural Neuroscience, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Department of Applied Informatics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Hirjaková
- Department of Behavioural Neuroscience, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Igor Riečanský
- Department of Behavioural Neuroscience, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Jana Kimijanová
- Department of Behavioural Neuroscience, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Al-Husseini A, Gard A, Fransson PA, Tegner Y, Magnusson M, Marklund N, Tjernström F. Long-term postural control in elite athletes following mild traumatic brain injury. Front Neurol 2022; 13:906594. [PMID: 36172026 PMCID: PMC9511028 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.906594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Traumas to the head and neck are common in sports and often affects otherwise healthy young individuals. Sports-related concussions (SRC), defined as a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), may inflict persistent neck and shoulder pain, and headache, but also more complex symptoms, such as imbalance, dizziness, and visual disturbances. These more complex symptoms are difficult to identify with standard health care diagnostic procedures. Objective To investigate postural control in a group of former elite athletes with persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS) at least 6 months after the incident. Method Postural control was examined using posturography during quiet stance and randomized balance perturbations with eyes open and eyes closed. Randomized balance perturbations were used to examine motor learning through sensorimotor adaptation. Force platform recordings were converted to reflect the energy used to maintain balance and spectrally categorized into total energy used, energy used for smooth corrective changes of posture (i.e., <0.1 Hz), and energy used for fast corrective movements to maintain balance (i.e., >0.1 Hz). Results The mTBI group included 20 (13 males, mean age 26.6 years) elite athletes with PPCS and the control group included 12 athletes (9 males, mean age 26.4 years) with no history of SRC. The mTBI group used significantly more energy during balance perturbations than controls: +143% total energy, p = 0.004; +122% low frequency energy, p = 0.007; and +162% high frequency energy, p = 0.004. The mTBI subjects also adapted less to the balance perturbations than controls in total (18% mTBI vs. 37% controls, p = 0.042), low frequency (24% mTBI vs. 42% controls, p = 0.046), and high frequency (6% mTBI vs. 28% controls, p = 0.040). The mTBI subjects used significantly more energy during quiet stance than controls: +128% total energy, p = 0.034; +136% low-frequency energy, p = 0.048; and +109% high-frequency energy, p = 0.015. Conclusion Athletes with previous mTBI and PPCS used more energy to stand compared to controls during balance perturbations and quiet stance and had diminished sensorimotor adaptation. Sports-related concussions are able to affect postural control and motor learning.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Al-Husseini
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Neurosurgery, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anna Gard
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Neurosurgery, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Per-Anders Fransson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Per-Anders Fransson
| | - Yelverton Tegner
- Department of Health Sciences, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden
| | - Måns Magnusson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Niklas Marklund
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Neurosurgery, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Guo L, Kou J, Wu M. Ability of Wearable Accelerometers-Based Measures to Assess the Stability of Working Postures. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:4695. [PMID: 35457561 PMCID: PMC9030489 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19084695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
With the rapid development and widespread application of wearable inertial sensors in the field of human motion capture, the low-cost and non-invasive accelerometer (ACC) based measures have been widely used for working postural stability assessment. This study systematically investigated the abilities of ACC-based measures to assess the stability of working postures in terms of the ability to detect the effects of work-related factors and the ability to classify stable and unstable working postures. Thirty young males participated in this study and performed twenty-four load-holding tasks (six working postures × two standing surfaces × two holding loads), and forty-three ACC-based measures were derived from the ACC data obtained by using a 17 inertial sensors-based motion capture system. ANOVAs, t-tests and machine learning (ML) methods were adopted to study the factors’ effects detection ability and the postural stability classification ability. The results show that almost all forty-three ACC-based measures could (p < 0.05) detect the main effects of Working Posture and Load Carriage, and their interaction effects. However, most of them failed in (p ≥ 0.05) detecting Standing Surface’s main or interaction effects. Five measures could detect both main and interaction effects of all the three factors, which are recommended for working postural stability assessment. The performance in postural stability classification based on ML was also good, and the feature set exerted a greater influence on the classification accuracy than sensor configuration (i.e., sensor placement locations). The results show that the pelvis and lower legs are recommended locations overall, in which the pelvis is the first choice. The findings of this study have proved that wearable ACC-based measures could assess the stability of working postures, including the work-related factors’ effects detection ability and stable-unstable working postures classification ability. However, researchers should pay more attention to the measure selection, sensors placement, feature selection and extraction in practical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liangjie Guo
- Department of Safety Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China; (J.K.); (M.W.)
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kimijanová J, Bzdúšková D, Hirjaková Z, Hlavačka F. Age-Related Changes of the Anticipatory Postural Adjustments During Gait Initiation Preceded by Vibration of Lower Leg Muscles. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:771446. [PMID: 34744671 PMCID: PMC8566353 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.771446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gait initiation (GI) challenges the balance control system, especially in the elderly. To date, however, there is no consensus about the age effect on the anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs). There is also a lack of research on APAs in older adults after proprioceptive perturbation in the sagittal plane. This study aimed to compare the ability of young and older participants to generate APAs in response to the vibratory-induced perturbation delivered immediately before GI. Twenty-two young and 22 older adults performed a series of GI trials: (1) without previous vibration; (2) preceded by the vibration of triceps surae muscles; and (3) preceded by the vibration of tibialis anterior muscles. The APAs magnitude, velocity, time-to-peak, and duration were extracted from the center of pressure displacement in the sagittal plane. Young participants significantly modified their APAs during GI, whereas older adults did not markedly change their APAs when the body vertical was shifted neither backward nor forward. Significant age-related declines in APAs were observed also regardless of the altered proprioception.The results show that young adults actively responded to the altered proprioception from lower leg muscles and sensitively scaled APAs according to the actual position of the body verticality. Contrary, older adults were unable to adjust their postural responses indicating that the challenging transition from standing to walking probably requires higher reliance on the visual input. The understanding of age-related differences in APAs may help to design training programs for the elderly specifically targeted to improve balance control in different sensory conditions, particularly during gait initiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jana Kimijanová
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Diana Bzdúšková
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Hirjaková
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - František Hlavačka
- Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Baker N, Gough C, Gordon SJ. Inertial Sensor Reliability and Validity for Static and Dynamic Balance in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 21:5167. [PMID: 34372404 PMCID: PMC8348903 DOI: 10.3390/s21155167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2021] [Revised: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Compared to laboratory equipment inertial sensors are inexpensive and portable, permitting the measurement of postural sway and balance to be conducted in any setting. This systematic review investigated the inter-sensor and test-retest reliability, and concurrent and discriminant validity to measure static and dynamic balance in healthy adults. Medline, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched to January 2021. Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis was possible for reliability studies only and it was found that inertial sensors are reliable to measure static standing eyes open. A synthesis of the included studies shows moderate to good reliability for dynamic balance. Concurrent validity is moderate for both static and dynamic balance. Sensors discriminate old from young adults by amplitude of mediolateral sway, gait velocity, step length, and turn speed. Fallers are discriminated from non-fallers by sensor measures during walking, stepping, and sit to stand. The accuracy of discrimination is unable to be determined conclusively. Using inertial sensors to measure postural sway in healthy adults provides real-time data collected in the natural environment and enables discrimination between fallers and non-fallers. The ability of inertial sensors to identify differences in postural sway components related to altered performance in clinical tests can inform targeted interventions for the prevention of falls and near falls.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicky Baker
- Flinders Digital Health Research Centre, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia; (C.G.); (S.J.G.)
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Genoves GG, Cruz CF, Doná F, Andrade TAM, Ferraz HB, Barela JA. Detection of passive movement in lower limb joints is impaired in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Neurophysiol Clin 2021; 51:279-285. [PMID: 33934993 DOI: 10.1016/j.neucli.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sensory information is crucial when performing daily activities, and Parkinson's disease may diminish sensitivity to sensory cues. This study aimed to examine the detection threshold of passive motion of knee and ankle joints in individuals with Parkinson's disease. METHODS Eighteen individuals in the early stages of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (age: 62.7 ± 7.3 years) and 18 healthy matched controls (age: 62.5 ± 7.1 years) first performed a simple reaction time test. Participants were asked to perform ten trials, during which they had to watch a square on a screen and press a button as quickly as possible when the square lit up. Thereafter, the participants were tested for their detection threshold of passive motion of their lower limb joints. Participants were seated in a specially designed chair and their knee or ankle joint was passively moved at a velocity of 0.5º/s. Participants kept their eyes closed and were instructed to press a button as quickly as possible when any joint motion was detected. RESULTS Individuals with Parkinson's disease needed more time to perform the reaction time test than did the control participants. Individuals with Parkinson's disease also needed larger angular displacement, even when reaction time was used as a covariate measure, to detect any passive motion, in both knee (0.70º ± 0.20º) and ankle (1.03º ± 0.23º) joints than did the control participants [(0.57º ± 0.20º) and (0.84º ± 0.27º), respectively]. CONCLUSION Impaired joint proprioception can be observed in the early stages of Parkinson's disease, which may compromise the use of proprioception cues from lower limbs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Gracioli Genoves
- Institute of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Caio Ferraz Cruz
- Institute of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Cruzeiro do Sul University, São Paulo, SP, Brazil; School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Flávia Doná
- Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - José Angelo Barela
- Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Patel M, Nilsson MH, Rehncrona S, Tjernström F, Magnusson M, Johansson R, Fransson PA. Effects of Deep Brain Stimulation on Postural Control in Parkinson's Disease. Comput Biol Med 2020; 122:103828. [DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2020.103828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
|
9
|
Ghislieri M, Gastaldi L, Pastorelli S, Tadano S, Agostini V. Wearable Inertial Sensors to Assess Standing Balance: A Systematic Review. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 19:E4075. [PMID: 31547181 PMCID: PMC6806601 DOI: 10.3390/s19194075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 09/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Wearable sensors are de facto revolutionizing the assessment of standing balance. The aim of this work is to review the state-of-the-art literature that adopts this new posturographic paradigm, i.e., to analyse human postural sway through inertial sensors directly worn on the subject body. After a systematic search on PubMed and Scopus databases, two raters evaluated the quality of 73 full-text articles, selecting 47 high-quality contributions. A good inter-rater reliability was obtained (Cohen's kappa = 0.79). This selection of papers was used to summarize the available knowledge on the types of sensors used and their positioning, the data acquisition protocols and the main applications in this field (e.g., "active aging", biofeedback-based rehabilitation for fall prevention, and the management of Parkinson's disease and other balance-related pathologies), as well as the most adopted outcome measures. A critical discussion on the validation of wearable systems against gold standards is also presented.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Ghislieri
- Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy.
| | - Laura Gastaldi
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy.
| | - Stefano Pastorelli
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy.
| | - Shigeru Tadano
- National Institute of Technology, Hakodate College, Hakodatate 042-8501, Japan.
- Division of Human Mechanical Systems and Design, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0808, Japan.
| | - Valentina Agostini
- Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Torino, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Godi M, Giardini M, Schieppati M. Walking Along Curved Trajectories. Changes With Age and Parkinson's Disease. Hints to Rehabilitation. Front Neurol 2019; 10:532. [PMID: 31178816 PMCID: PMC6543918 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In this review, we briefly recall the fundamental processes allowing us to change locomotion trajectory and keep walking along a curved path and provide a review of contemporary literature on turning in older adults and people with Parkinson's Disease (PD). The first part briefly summarizes the way the body exploits the physical laws to produce a curved walking trajectory. Then, the changes in muscle and brain activation underpinning this task, and the promoting role of proprioception, are briefly considered. Another section is devoted to the gait changes occurring in curved walking and steering with aging. Further, freezing during turning and rehabilitation of curved walking in patients with PD is mentioned in the last part. Obviously, as the research on body steering while walking or turning has boomed in the last 10 years, the relevant critical issues have been tackled and ways to improve this locomotor task proposed. Rationale and evidences for successful training procedures are available, to potentially reduce the risk of falling in both older adults and patients with PD. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of steering, of the subtle but vital interaction between posture, balance, and progression along non-linear trajectories, and of the residual motor learning capacities in these cohorts may provide solid bases for new rehabilitative approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco Godi
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, ICS Maugeri SPA SB, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marica Giardini
- Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, ICS Maugeri SPA SB, Pavia, Italy
| | - Marco Schieppati
- Department of Exercise and Sport Science, International University of Health, Exercise and Sports, LUNEX University, Differdange, Luxembourg
| |
Collapse
|