Validity of Inertial Sensors for Assessing Balance Kinematics and Mobility during Treadmill-Based Perturbation and Dance Training.

Ernest Kwesi Ofori,Shuaijie Wang,Tanvi Bhatt

doi:10.3390/s21093065

Abstract

Inertial sensors (IS) enable the kinematic analysis of human motion with fewer logistical limitations than the silver standard optoelectronic motion capture (MOCAP) system. However, there are no data on the validity of IS for perturbation training and during the performance of dance. The aim of this present study was to determine the concurrent validity of IS in the analysis of kinematic data during slip and trip-like perturbations and during the performance of dance. Seven IS and the MOCAP system were simultaneously used to capture the reactive response and dance movements of fifteen healthy young participants (Age: 18–35 years). Bland Altman (BA) plots, root mean square errors (RMSE), Pearson’s correlation coefficients (R), and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to compare kinematic variables of interest between the two systems for absolute equivalency and accuracy. Limits of agreements (LOA) of the BA plots ranged from −0.23 to 0.56 and −0.21 to 0.43 for slip and trip stability variables, respectively. The RMSE for slip and trip stabilities were from 0.11 to 0.20 and 0.11 to 0.16, respectively. For the joint mobility in dance, LOA varied from −6.98–18.54, while RMSE ranged from 1.90 to 13.06. Comparison of IS and optoelectronic MOCAP system for reactive balance and body segmental kinematics revealed that R varied from 0.59 to 0.81 and from 0.47 to 0.85 while ICC was from 0.50 to 0.72 and 0.45 to 0.84 respectively for slip–trip perturbations and dance. Results of moderate to high concurrent validity of IS and MOCAP systems. These results were consistent with results from similar studies. This suggests that IS are valid tools to quantitatively analyze reactive balance and mobility kinematics during slip–trip perturbation and the performance of dance at any location outside, including the laboratory, clinical and home settings.

Highlights

Validity analysis of reactive balance variables during treadmillbased slip and trip perturbations depicted moderate to high level of similarity of values obtained from the motion capture (MOCAP) and Inertial sensors (IS) systems
This study demonstrated that motion analysis via inertial sensors could provide precise kinematic data on body segments equivalent to the optoelectronic MOCAP system during slip and trip-like perturbations (Stance Perturbation Test was used to evaluated reactive balance), and in dance performance
This study demonstrated the concurrent validity of IS by showing that analysis of reactive balance and mobility outcome measures during slip and trip perturbations assessed via the Stance Perturbation Test could be performed with IS with high accuracies, like the MOCAP systems

Summary

Introduction

Postural instability and falls are common occurrences in older adults and stroke survivors resulting in numerous injuries and hospitalizations [1,2,3]. Voluntary and reactive balance control are mechanisms of resolving fall risks in all populations, and these mechanisms can be improved or enhanced via alternative training programs such as dance and perturbation training [4,5,6,7,8,9,10]. Fall prevention training in the form of dance and perturbation training has been extensively studied and the training effect on physical performance has been evaluated in the clinical and laboratory settings by use of predominantly clinical outcome measures such as Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed-Up and Go (TUG), Six-Minute

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