A multi-sensor wearable system for the assessment of diseased gait in real-world conditions

Salis F, Bertuletti S, Bonci T, Caruso M, Scott K, Alcock L, Buckley E, Gazit E, Hansen C, Schwickert L, Aminian K, Becker C, Brown P, Carsin AE, Caulfield B, Chiari L, D’Ascanio I, Del Din S, Eskofier B, Garcia-Aymerich J, Hausdorff JM, Hume EC, Kirk C, Kluge F, Koch S, Küderle A, Maetzler W, Micó-Amigo EM, Mueller A, Neatrour I, Paraschiv-Ionescu A, Palmerini L, Yarnall AJ, Rochester L, Sharrack B, Singleton D, Vereijken B, Vogiatzis I, Della Croce U, Mazzà C, Cereatti A (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

Book Volume: 11

Article Number: 1143248

DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1143248

Abstract

Introduction: Accurately assessing people’s gait, especially in real-world conditions and in case of impaired mobility, is still a challenge due to intrinsic and extrinsic factors resulting in gait complexity. To improve the estimation of gait-related digital mobility outcomes (DMOs) in real-world scenarios, this study presents a wearable multi-sensor system (INDIP), integrating complementary sensing approaches (two plantar pressure insoles, three inertial units and two distance sensors). Methods: The INDIP technical validity was assessed against stereophotogrammetry during a laboratory experimental protocol comprising structured tests (including continuous curvilinear and rectilinear walking and steps) and a simulation of daily-life activities (including intermittent gait and short walking bouts). To evaluate its performance on various gait patterns, data were collected on 128 participants from seven cohorts: healthy young and older adults, patients with Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and proximal femur fracture. Moreover, INDIP usability was evaluated by recording 2.5-h of real-world unsupervised activity. Results and discussion: Excellent absolute agreement (ICC >0.95) and very limited mean absolute errors were observed for all cohorts and digital mobility outcomes (cadence ≤0.61 steps/min, stride length ≤0.02 m, walking speed ≤0.02 m/s) in the structured tests. Larger, but limited, errors were observed during the daily-life simulation (cadence 2.72–4.87 steps/min, stride length 0.04–0.06 m, walking speed 0.03–0.05 m/s). Neither major technical nor usability issues were declared during the 2.5-h acquisitions. Therefore, the INDIP system can be considered a valid and feasible solution to collect reference data for analyzing gait in real-world conditions.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Robert-Bosch-Krankenhaus Germany (DE) University of Sheffield United Kingdom (GB) Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal) Spain (ES) Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center / Ichilov Hospital Israel (IL) Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) Germany (DE) Newcastle University United Kingdom (GB) Northumbria University United Kingdom (GB) University of Bologna / Università di Bologna Italy (IT) École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Switzerland (CH) Interuniversity Centre of Bioengineering of the Human Neuromusculoskeletal System (IUC BOHNES) Italy (IT) Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust United Kingdom (GB) University College Dublin (UCD) Ireland (IE) Università degli Studi di Sassari (UNISS) Italy (IT) Novartis AG Switzerland (CH) Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust United Kingdom (GB) NTNU Trondheim - Norwegian University of Science and Technology Norway (NO)

How to cite

APA:

Salis, F., Bertuletti, S., Bonci, T., Caruso, M., Scott, K., Alcock, L.,... Cereatti, A. (2023). A multi-sensor wearable system for the assessment of diseased gait in real-world conditions. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1143248

MLA:

Salis, Francesca, et al. "A multi-sensor wearable system for the assessment of diseased gait in real-world conditions." Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 11 (2023).

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