Article

While camera-based motion tracking systems are considered to be the gold standard
for kinematic analysis, these systems are not practical in clinical practice.
However, the collection of gait parameters using inertial sensors is feasible in
clinical settings and less expensive, but suffers from drift error that excludes
accurate analyses. The goal of this study was to apply a combination of
repetitive sensor position re-calibration techniques in order to improve the
intra-day and inter-day reliability of gait parameters using inertial sensors.
Kinematic data of nineteen healthy elderly individuals were captured twice within
the first day and once on a second day after one week using inertial sensors
fixed on the subject's forefoot during gait. Parameters of walking speed, minimum
foot clearance (MFC), minimum toe clearance (MTC), stride length, stance time and
swing time, as well as their corresponding measures of variability were
calculated. Intra-day and inter-day differences were rated using intra-class
correlation coefficients (ICC(3,1)), as well as the bias and limits of agreement.
The results indicate excellent reliability for all intra-day and inter-day mean
parameters (ICC: MFC 0.83-stride length 0.99). While good to excellent
reliability was observed during intra-day parameters of variability (ICC: walking
speed 0.71-MTC 0.98), corresponding inter-day reliability ranged from poor to
excellent (ICC: walking speed 0.32-MTC 0.95). In conclusion, the system is
suitable for reliable measurement of mean temporo-spatial parameters and the
variability of MFC and MTC. However, the system's accuracy needs to be improved
before remaining parameters of variability can reliably be collected.
CI - Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Langue : ANGLAIS