Abstract
BackgroundPostural instability is one of the major complications found in people who survive a stroke. Parameterizing the Functional Reach Test (FRT) could be useful in clinical practice and basic research, as this test is a clinically accepted tool (for its simplicity, reliability, economy, and portability) to measure the semistatic balance of a subject.ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to analyze the reliability in the FRT parameterization using inertial sensor within mobile phones (mobile sensors) for recording kinematic variables in patients who have suffered a stroke. Our hypothesis is that the sensors in mobile phones will be reliable instruments for kinematic study of the FRT.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study of 7 subjects over 65 years of age who suffered a stroke. During the execution of FRT, the subjects carried two mobile phones: one placed in the lumbar region and the other one on the trunk. After analyzing the data obtained in the kinematic registration by the mobile sensors, a number of direct and indirect variables were obtained. The variables extracted directly from FRT through the mobile sensors were distance, maximum angular lumbosacral/thoracic displacement, time for maximum angular lumbosacral/thoracic displacement, time of return to the initial position, and total time. Using these data, we calculated speed and acceleration of each. A descriptive analysis of all kinematic outcomes recorded by the two mobile sensors (trunk and lumbar) was developed and the average range achieved in the FRT. Reliability measures were calculated by analyzing the internal consistency of the measures with 95% confidence interval of each outcome variable. We calculated the reliability of mobile sensors in the measurement of the kinematic variables during the execution of the FRT.ResultsThe values in the FRT obtained in this study (2.49 cm, SD 13.15) are similar to those found in other studies with this population and with the same age range. Intrasubject reliability values observed in the use of mobile phones are all located above 0.831, ranging from 0.831 (time B_C trunk area) and 0.894 (displacement A_B trunk area). Likewise, the observed intersubject values range from 0.835 (time B_C trunk area) and 0.882 (displacement A_C trunk area). On the other hand, the reliability of the FRT was 0.989 (0.981-0.996) and 0.978 (0.970-0.985), intrasubject and intersubject respectively.ConclusionsWe found that mobile sensors in mobile phones could be reliable tools in the parameterization of the Functional Reach Test in people who have had a stroke.
Highlights
MethodsStroke is the leading cause of severe long-term disability worldwide, and it commonly occurs in people aged 65 years and over [1,2]
The imbalance is visible in increased postural sway, in asymmetric distribution of weight between the legs at rest position, and in difficulty maintaining the center of mass in the limits of corporal stability during a task [1,3,6]. Due to their inability to recover from a loss of balance, patients who have suffered stroke have a high risk of falls [1,4,6]
The aim of this study is to analyze the reliability of mobile phones for collecting kinematic variables in the parameterization of the Functional Reach Test (FRT) in people who have suffered a stroke
Summary
MethodsStroke is the leading cause of severe long-term disability worldwide, and it commonly occurs in people aged 65 years and over [1,2]. People who have suffered stroke present deficits in balance This is the main cause of the increased risk of falls and severe limitations suffered by patients in performing activities of daily living [3,4,5]. The imbalance is visible in increased postural sway, in asymmetric distribution of weight between the legs at rest position, and in difficulty maintaining the center of mass in the limits of corporal stability during a task [1,3,6] Due to their inability to recover from a loss of balance, patients who have suffered stroke have a high risk of falls [1,4,6]. Conclusions: We found that mobile sensors in mobile phones could be reliable tools in the parameterization of the Functional Reach Test in people who have had a stroke
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