Abstract
Spatio-temporal parameters of human gait, currently measured using different methods, provide valuable information on health. Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) are one such method of gait analysis, with smartphone IMUs serving as a good substitute for current gold-standard techniques. Here we investigate the concurrent validity of a smartphone placed in a front-facing pocket to perform gait analysis. Sixty community-dwelling healthy adults equipped with a smartphone and an application for gait analysis completed a 2-min walk on a marked path. Concurrent validity was assessed against an APDM mobility lab (APDM Inc.; Portland, OR, USA). Bland–Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients (agreement and consistency) for gait speed, cadence, and step length indicate good to excellent agreement (ICC2,1 > 0.8). For right leg stance and swing % of gait cycle and double support % of gait cycle, results were moderate (0.52 < ICC2,1 < 0.62). For left leg stance and swing % of gait cycle left results show poor agreement (ICC2,1 < 0.5). Consistency of results was good to excellent for all tested parameters (ICC3,1 > 0.8). Thus we have a valid and reliable instrument for measuring healthy adults’ spatio-temporal gait parameters in a controlled walking environment.
Highlights
Baumgartner and Urban FietzekGait is a fundamental daily function crucial for independence in older age [1]; as such, it is a widely investigated marker in relation to aging [1], cognition [2], walking abilities, and health in general [3]
Modern gait analysis methodology has evolved from the days in which it meant a restricted clinic or research space using a pressure mat [5] or optical motion-capture systems [6]
Insoles [7] or other wearable devices allow long-term assessment of gait; these systems rely on wireless body fixed sensors that include inertial measurement units (IMU) recording acceleration-derived measures of gait [4]
Summary
Baumgartner and Urban FietzekGait is a fundamental daily function crucial for independence in older age [1]; as such, it is a widely investigated marker in relation to aging [1], cognition [2], walking abilities, and health in general [3]. Spatio-temporal gait parameters can provide both valuable health information and recognition of divergence from normal patterns. It may help identify an underlying pathology or measure its progression [4]. Gold-standard gait analysis systems include optical motion-capture systems, force plates, or expensive instrumented walkways. They require high proficiency and both a long set-up time and manual post-processing that limits their accessibility and feasibility in both clinical practice and research [8]. Home-based evaluation can provide healthcare professionals with valuable and accessible information regarding patients’ clinical progress [10] and may pave the way for gait analysis in larger population cohorts for whom the current gold-standard methods are impractical. Wearable IMU is cheaper and more accessible [7]
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