Using Inertial Sensors to Quantify Postural Sway and Gait Performance during the Tandem Walking Test

Sensors

Yoav Gimmon¹  MichaelC. Schubert¹  Jennifer Millar²  KyoungJae Kim³ 

[1] Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Laboratory of Vestibular Neuroadaptation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA;Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA;Department of Physical Therapy, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA;

关键词: tandem walking;    balance;    gait;    body-worn inertial sensor;    vestibular disorder;   

DOI  :  10.3390/s19040751

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Vestibular dysfunction typically manifests as postural instability and gait irregularities, in part due to inaccuracies in processing spatial afference. In this study, we have instrumented the tandem walking test with multiple inertial sensors to easily and precisely investigate novel variables that can distinguish abnormal postural and gait control in patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction. Ten healthy adults and five patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction were assessed with the tandem walking test during eyes open and eyes closed conditions. Each subject donned five inertial sensors on the upper body (head, trunk, and pelvis) and lower body (each lateral malleolus). Our results indicate that measuring the degree of balance and gait regularity using five body-worn inertial sensors during the tandem walking test provides a novel quantification of movement that identifies abnormalities in patients with vestibular impairment.

【 授权许可】

Unknown