Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.8
3.9
Journals
Sensors
Sections
Sensors for Human Movement Applications
sensors-logo
Submit to Topical Collection Review for Sensors

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Sensors for Human Movement Applications

A topical collection in Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This collection belongs to the section "Physical Sensors".

Viewed by 64037

Editor

Dr. Zdeněk Svoboda

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
Department of Natural Science in Kinanthropology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
Interests: biomechanics; inertial sensors; motion capture; gait; balance

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the last decade, various sensors, procedures, and algorithms for the assessment of human movement have been developed. New sensors often provide more precise measurements of movement for relatively long periods not only in labs but also in real-life conditions. Therefore, researchers have discovered new possibilities for further development of the field of human movement and more advanced methods for data analysis, such as non-linear procedures. These novel approaches are used in many areas of human movement science from clinical to sport performance applications.

This Topical Collection on Sensors for Human Movement Applications will address but is not limited to the following topics:

  • Sensor applications for common daily activities
  • Sensor applications for sport performance
  • Sensor applications for the evaluation of movement in clinical areas
  • Using sensors for the evaluation of movement variability
  • Using sensors for the evaluation of postural control
  • Methodological aspects of human movement analysis using motion capture
  • Development of new sensors for human movement applications
  • Novel approaches to data processing in human movement analysis
  • Novel approaches in the assessment of physical activity using inertial sensors

Dr. Zdeněk Svoboda
Collection Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the collection website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • inertial sensors
  • gyroscopes
  • accelerometers
  • motion capture
  • physical activity
  • clinical applications
  • sport applications

Published Papers (22 papers)

Download All Papers

2023

Jump to: 2022, 2021, 2020

20 pages, 2600 KiB  
Systematic Review
Wearable Sensors for the Monitoring of Maternal Health—A Systematic Review
by Anika Alim and Masudul H. Imtiaz
Sensors 2023, 23(5), 2411; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23052411 - 22 Feb 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5043
Abstract
Maternal health includes health during pregnancy and childbirth. Each stage during pregnancy should be a positive experience, ensuring that women and their babies reach their full potential in health and well-being. However, this cannot always be achieved. According to UNFPA (United Nations Population [...] Read more.
Maternal health includes health during pregnancy and childbirth. Each stage during pregnancy should be a positive experience, ensuring that women and their babies reach their full potential in health and well-being. However, this cannot always be achieved. According to UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), approximately 800 women die every day from avoidable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, so it is important to monitor mother and fetal health throughout the pregnancy. Many wearable sensors and devices have been developed to monitor both fetal and the mother’s health and physical activities and reduce risk during pregnancy. Some wearables monitor fetal ECG or heart rate and movement, while others focus on the mother’s health and physical activities. This study presents a systematic review of these analyses. Twelve scientific articles were reviewed to address three research questions oriented to (1) sensors and method of data acquisition; (2) processing methods of the acquired data; and (3) detection of the activities or movements of the fetus or the mother. Based on these findings, we discuss how sensors can help effectively monitor maternal and fetal health during pregnancy. We have observed that most of the wearable sensors were used in a controlled environment. These sensors need more testing in free-living conditions and to be employed for continuous monitoring before being recommended for mass implementation. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 3176 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Three Motion Capture-Based Algorithms for Spatiotemporal Gait Characteristics: How Do Algorithms Affect Accuracy and Precision of Clinical Outcomes?
by Amélie Caron-Laramée, Roua Walha, Patrick Boissy, Nathaly Gaudreault, Nikola Zelovic and Karina Lebel
Sensors 2023, 23(4), 2209; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23042209 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1640
Abstract
Gait assessment is of interest to clinicians and researchers because it provides information about patients’ functional mobility. Optoelectronic camera-based systems with gait event detection algorithms are considered the gold standard for gait assessment. Yet, the choice of the algorithm used to process data [...] Read more.
Gait assessment is of interest to clinicians and researchers because it provides information about patients’ functional mobility. Optoelectronic camera-based systems with gait event detection algorithms are considered the gold standard for gait assessment. Yet, the choice of the algorithm used to process data and extract the desired parameters from those detected gait events has an impact on the validity and reliability of the gait parameters computed. There are multiple techniques documented in the literature for computing gait events, including the analysis of the minimal position of the heel and toe markers, the computation of the relative distance between sacrum and foot markers, and the assessment of the smallest distance between the heel and toe markers. Validation studies conducted on these algorithms report variations in accuracy. Yet, these studies were conducted in different conditions, at varying gait velocities, and on different populations. The purpose of this study is to compare accuracy, precision, and robustness of three algorithms using motion capture data obtained from 25 healthy persons and 21 psoriatic arthritic patients walking at three distinct speeds on an instrumented treadmill. Errors in gait events recognition (heel strike—HS and toe-off—TO) and their impact on gait metrics (stance phase and stride length) are reported and compared to ground reaction force events measured with force plates. Over the 9114 collected steps across all walking speeds, more than 99% of gait events were recognized by all algorithms. On average, HS events were detected within 1.2 ms of the reference for two algorithms, while the third one detected HS late, with an average detection error of 40.7 ms. Yet, significant variations in accuracy were noted with gait speed; the performance decreased for all algorithms at slow speed. TO events were identified early by all algorithms, with an average error ranging from 16.0 to 100.0 ms. These gait events errors lead to 2–15% inaccuracies in stance phase assessment, while the impact on stride length remains below 0.3 cm. Overall, the algorithm based on the relative distance between the sacral and foot markers stood out for its accuracy, precision, and robustness at all walking speeds. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1542 KiB  
Review
Efficacy of Specific Trunk Exercises in the Balance Dysfunction of Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Remedios López-Liria, Sofía Vega-Tirado, María Ángeles Valverde-Martínez, Andrés Calvache-Mateo, Ana María Martínez-Martínez and Patricia Rocamora-Pérez
Sensors 2023, 23(4), 1817; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23041817 - 06 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3302
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative pathology classified as a movement disorder. Physical exercise within a physiotherapy program is an important element to improve postural stability, balance and mobility in order to reduce falls in people with PD. The aim of this work [...] Read more.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative pathology classified as a movement disorder. Physical exercise within a physiotherapy program is an important element to improve postural stability, balance and mobility in order to reduce falls in people with PD. The aim of this work was to determine the efficacy of specific balance and trunk mobility exercises, as well as their benefits for and effects on patients with idiopathic PD. A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to PRISMA standards. The search was performed in five databases: Cochrane Library, SciELO, PEDro, Scopus and PubMed, in February 2022 with the following descriptors: Parkinson’s disease, trunk, exercise, therapy and physical therapy. The inclusion criteria were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) over the last ten years. A meta-analysis on static and dynamic balance was conducted with the software Review Manager. Nine articles met the objectives and inclusion criteria, with a total of 240 participants. The trials had moderate methodological quality according to the PEDro scale. The studies included differed with regard to intervention protocol and outcome measures. Finally, eight studies were included in a quantitative analysis in which it was shown that trunk-specific exercises interventions did not significantly improve static balance (SMD = −0.10, 95% CI = −0.29, 0.08; p = 0.28) or dynamic balance (SMD = 0.64 95% CI = −0.24, 1.52; p = 0.15). However, significant differences were found in static balance measured subjectively using the Berg Balance Scale (SMD = −0.52, 95% CI = −1.01, −0.02; p = 0.04). Although some differences were not significant, the studies included in this systematic review consider that specific trunk exercises or balance training combined with muscle strengthening in patients with idiopathic PD should be a complement to pharmacological treatment for improving balance dysfunction and postural instability, preventing falls and promoting wellness. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

2022

Jump to: 2023, 2021, 2020

11 pages, 2177 KiB  
Article
A Comparison of a Novel Stretchable Smart Patch for Measuring Runner’s Step Rates with Existing Measuring Technologies
by Nina Verdel, Miha Drobnič, Jan Maslik, Klara Björnander Rahimi, Giorgio Tantillo, Alessandro Gumiero, Klas Hjort, Hans-Christer Holmberg and Matej Supej
Sensors 2022, 22(13), 4897; https://doi.org/10.3390/s22134897 - 29 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2245
Abstract
A novel wearable smart patch can monitor various aspects of physical activity, including the dynamics of running, but like any new device developed for such applications, it must first be tested for validity. Here, we compare the step rate while running in place [...] Read more.
A novel wearable smart patch can monitor various aspects of physical activity, including the dynamics of running, but like any new device developed for such applications, it must first be tested for validity. Here, we compare the step rate while running in place as measured by this smart patch to the corresponding values obtained utilizing ‘‘gold standard’’ MEMS accelerometers in combination with bilateral force plates equipped with HBM load cells, as well as the values provided by a three-dimensional motion capture system and the Garmin Dynamics Running Pod. The 15 healthy, physically active volunteers (age = 23 ± 3 years; body mass = 74 ± 17 kg, height = 176 ± 10 cm) completed three consecutive 20-s bouts of running in place, starting at low, followed by medium, and finally at high intensity, all self-chosen. Our major findings are that the rates of running in place provided by all four systems were valid, with the notable exception of the fast step rate as measured by the Garmin Running Pod. The lowest mean bias and LoA for these measurements at all rates were associated consistently with the smart patch. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

2021

Jump to: 2023, 2022, 2020

15 pages, 4152 KiB  
Article
Estimation of Lower Limb Kinematics during Squat Task in Different Loading Using sEMG Activity and Deep Recurrent Neural Networks
by Alireza Rezaie Zangene, Ali Abbasi and Kianoush Nazarpour
Sensors 2021, 21(23), 7773; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21237773 - 23 Nov 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2808
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to predict the kinematics of the knee and the ankle joints during a squat training task of different intensities. Lower limb surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals and the 3-D kinematics of lower extremity joints were recorded from [...] Read more.
The aim of the present study was to predict the kinematics of the knee and the ankle joints during a squat training task of different intensities. Lower limb surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals and the 3-D kinematics of lower extremity joints were recorded from 19 body builders during squat training at four loading conditions. A long-short term memory (LSTM) was used to estimate the kinematics of the knee and the ankle joints. The accuracy, in terms root-mean-square error (RMSE) metric, of the LSTM network for the knee and ankle joints were 6.774 ± 1.197 and 6.961 ± 1.200, respectively. The LSTM network with inputs processed by cross-correlation (CC) method showed 3.8% and 4.7% better performance in the knee and ankle joints, respectively, compared to when the CC method was not used. Our results showed that in the prediction, regardless of the intensity of movement and inter-subject variability, an off-the-shelf LSTM decoder outperforms conventional fully connected neural networks. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 287 KiB  
Article
Postural Control Strategies and Balance-Related Factors in Individuals with Traumatic Transtibial Amputations
by Barbora Kolářová, Miroslav Janura, Zdeněk Svoboda, Petr Kolář, Dagmar Tečová and Milan Elfmark
Sensors 2021, 21(21), 7284; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21217284 - 01 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1889
Abstract
Mechanisms behind compromised balance control in people with transtibial amputation need to be further explored, as currently little is known specifically about postural control strategies in people with traumatic transtibial amputation (tTTA). The aim of this study is to assess automatic and voluntary [...] Read more.
Mechanisms behind compromised balance control in people with transtibial amputation need to be further explored, as currently little is known specifically about postural control strategies in people with traumatic transtibial amputation (tTTA). The aim of this study is to assess automatic and voluntary postural control strategies in individuals with unilateral tTTA compared to those in control subjects and to define the effect of balance-related factors on these strategies. Automatic posture reactions and volitional motion toward given direction using standardized posturographic protocols (NeuroCom) of the Motor Control Test (MCT) and Limits of Stability (LOS) were assessed in eighteen participants with tTTA and eighteen age-matched controls. Compared to the controls, the participants with tTTA bore less weight on the prosthetic leg (p < 0.001) during the MCT and had reduced inclination toward the prosthetic leg (p < 0.001) within the LOS. In the tTTA group, the weight-bearing symmetry and the inclination toward the prosthetic leg (p < 0.05) was positively correlated with prosthesis use duration (p < 0.05). The current study indicates that decreased utilization of the prosthetic leg in tTTAs represents adaptive postural control strategy, but as prosthesis use duration increased, the engagement of the prosthetic leg improved. Full article
10 pages, 601 KiB  
Article
Validity and Reliability of an Inertial Sensor Device for Specific Running Patterns in Soccer
by Guglielmo Pillitteri, Ewan Thomas, Giuseppe Battaglia, Giovanni Angelo Navarra, Antonino Scardina, Viviana Gammino, Dario Ricchiari and Marianna Bellafiore
Sensors 2021, 21(21), 7255; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21217255 - 31 Oct 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2888
Abstract
Electronic performance tracking devices are largely employed in team sports to monitor performance and improve training. To date, global positioning system (GPS) based devices are those mainly used in soccer training. The aim of this study was to analyse the validity and reliability [...] Read more.
Electronic performance tracking devices are largely employed in team sports to monitor performance and improve training. To date, global positioning system (GPS) based devices are those mainly used in soccer training. The aim of this study was to analyse the validity and reliability of the inertial sensor device (ISD) in monitoring distance and speed in a soccer-specific circuit and how their performance compare to a GPS system. 44 young male soccer players (age: 14.9 ± 1.1, range 9–16, years, height: 1.65 ± 0.10 m, body mass: 56.3 ± 8.9 kg) playing in a non-professional soccer team in Italy, participated in the study. We assessed the players trough a soccer running sport-specific circuit. An ISD and a GPS were used to assess distance and speed. Data was compared to a video reference system, and the difference were quantified by means of the root mean square error (RMSE). Significant differences were found for both GPS and ISD devices for distance and speed. However, lower error for distance (dRMSE 2.23 ± 1.01 m and 5.75 ± 1.50 m, respectively) and speed (sRMSE 0.588 ± 0.152 m·s–1 and 1.30 ± 0.422 m·s–1, respectively) were attained by the ISD compared to the GPS. Overall, our results revealed a statistically significant difference between systems in data monitoring for either distance and speed. However, results of this study showed that a smaller error was obtained with the ISD than the GPS device. Despite caution is warranted within the interpretation of these results, we observed a better practical applicability of the ISD due to its small size, lower cost and the possibility to use the device indoor. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 7713 KiB  
Article
Smart Watch Versus Classic Receivers: Static Validity of Three GPS Devices in Different Types of Built Environments
by Michal Vorlíček, Tom Stewart, Jasper Schipperijn, Jaroslav Burian, Lukáš Rubín, Jan Dygrýn, Josef Mitáš and Scott Duncan
Sensors 2021, 21(21), 7232; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21217232 - 30 Oct 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2684
Abstract
In order to study the relationship between human physical activity and the design of the built environment, it is important to measure the location of human movement accurately. In this study, we compared an inexpensive GPS receiver (Holux RCV-3000) and a frequently used [...] Read more.
In order to study the relationship between human physical activity and the design of the built environment, it is important to measure the location of human movement accurately. In this study, we compared an inexpensive GPS receiver (Holux RCV-3000) and a frequently used Garmin Forerunner 35 smart watch, with a device that has been validated and recommended for physical activity research (Qstarz BT-Q1000XT). These instruments were placed on six geodetic points, which represented a range of different environments (e.g., residential, open space, park). The coordinates recorded by each device were compared with the known coordinates of the geodetic points. There were no differences in accuracy among the three devices when averaged across the six sites. However, the Garmin was more accurate in the city center and the Holux was more accurate in the park and housing estate areas compared to the other devices. We consider the location accuracy of the Holux and the Garmin to be comparable to that of the Qstarz. Therefore, we consider these devices to be suitable instruments for locating physical activity. Researchers must also consider other differences among these devices (such as battery life) when determining if they are suitable for their research studies. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 5094 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Decision Tree and Long Short-Term Memory Approaches for Automated Foot Strike Detection in Lower Extremity Amputee Populations
by Pascale Juneau, Natalie Baddour, Helena Burger, Andrej Bavec and Edward D. Lemaire
Sensors 2021, 21(21), 6974; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21216974 - 21 Oct 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1977
Abstract
Foot strike detection is important when evaluating a person’s gait characteristics. Accelerometer and gyroscope signals from smartphones have been used to train artificial intelligence (AI) models for automated foot strike detection in able-bodied and elderly populations. However, there is limited research on foot [...] Read more.
Foot strike detection is important when evaluating a person’s gait characteristics. Accelerometer and gyroscope signals from smartphones have been used to train artificial intelligence (AI) models for automated foot strike detection in able-bodied and elderly populations. However, there is limited research on foot strike detection in lower limb amputees, who have a more variable and asymmetric gait. A novel method for automated foot strike detection in lower limb amputees was developed using raw accelerometer and gyroscope signals collected from a smartphone positioned at the posterior pelvis. Raw signals were used to train a decision tree model and long short-term memory (LSTM) model for automated foot strike detection. These models were developed using retrospective data (n = 72) collected with the TOHRC Walk Test app during a 6-min walk test (6MWT). An Android smartphone was placed on a posterior belt for each participant during the 6MWT to collect accelerometer and gyroscope signals at 50 Hz. The best model for foot strike identification was the LSTM with 100 hidden nodes in the LSTM layer, 50 hidden nodes in the dense layer, and a batch size of 64 (99.0% accuracy, 86.4% sensitivity, 99.4% specificity, and 83.7% precision). This research created a novel method for automated foot strike identification in lower extremity amputee populations that is equivalent to manual labelling and accessible for clinical use. Automated foot strike detection is required for stride analysis and to enable other AI applications, such as fall detection. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 496 KiB  
Review
Detecting Fall Risk and Frailty in Elders with Inertial Motion Sensors: A Survey of Significant Gait Parameters
by Luisa Ruiz-Ruiz, Antonio R. Jimenez, Guillermo Garcia-Villamil and Fernando Seco
Sensors 2021, 21(20), 6918; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21206918 - 19 Oct 2021
Cited by 26 | Viewed by 4902
Abstract
In the elderly, geriatric problems such as the risk of fall or frailty are a challenge for society. Patients with frailty present difficulties in walking and higher fall risk. The use of sensors for gait analysis allows the detection of objective parameters related [...] Read more.
In the elderly, geriatric problems such as the risk of fall or frailty are a challenge for society. Patients with frailty present difficulties in walking and higher fall risk. The use of sensors for gait analysis allows the detection of objective parameters related to these pathologies and to make an early diagnosis. Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) are wearables that, due to their accuracy, portability, and low price, are an excellent option to analyze human gait parameters in health-monitoring applications. Many relevant gait parameters (e.g., step time, walking speed) are used to assess motor, or even cognitive, health problems in the elderly, but we perceived that there is not a full consensus on which parameters are the most significant to estimate the risk of fall and the frailty state. In this work, we analyzed the different IMU-based gait parameters proposed in the literature to assess frailty state (robust, prefrail, or frail) or fall risk. The aim was to collect the most significant gait parameters, measured from inertial sensors, able to discriminate between patient groups and to highlight those parameters that are not relevant or for which there is controversy among the examined works. For this purpose, a literature review of the studies published in recent years was carried out; apart from 10 previous relevant reviews using inertial and other sensing technologies, a total of 22 specific studies giving statistical significance values were analyzed. The results showed that the most significant parameters are double-support time, gait speed, stride time, step time, and the number of steps/day or walking percentage/day, for frailty diagnosis. In the case of fall risk detection, parameters related to trunk stability or movements are the most relevant. Although these results are important, the total number of works found was limited and most of them performed the significance statistics on subsets of all possible gait parameters; this fact highlights the need for new frailty studies using a more complete set of gait parameters. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 958 KiB  
Article
Correlates of Balance and Aerobic Indices in Lower-Limb Prostheses Users on Arm Crank Exercise
by Gary Guerra and John D. Smith
Sensors 2021, 21(20), 6917; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21206917 - 19 Oct 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2495
Abstract
Background: The HUMAC Balance System (HBS) offers valid measurement of balance, and the arm crank exercise test (ACE) is a valid measure of physiological capacity. Neither have been used to evaluate associations between balance and physiological capacity in lower-limb amputees. Methods: Thirty-five participants [...] Read more.
Background: The HUMAC Balance System (HBS) offers valid measurement of balance, and the arm crank exercise test (ACE) is a valid measure of physiological capacity. Neither have been used to evaluate associations between balance and physiological capacity in lower-limb amputees. Methods: Thirty-five participants with lower-limb amputations were recruited. Standing balance (center of pressure) was evaluated during eyes opened (EO) and eyes closed (EC) conditions using the HBS. Participants performed ACE graded exercise testing (GXT) to evaluate aerobic capacity. Spearman’s rho was used to identify relationships between variables. Cut-points for three groups were generated for time on ACE. Mann–Whitney U tests were used to explore significant differences in variables of balance and ACE between low and high performers. Results: Relationships between variables of eyes open displacement (EOD), eyes open velocity (EOV), eyes closed displacement (ECD), and eyes closed velocity (ECV) were significant (p < 0.05), and high performers with EO also performed best with EC. Longer exercise times were significantly associated with increased HRpeak, VO2peak, VEpeak, and RERpeak (p < 0.05). HRpeak (143.0 ± 30.6 b/min), VO2peak (22.7 ± 7.9 and 10.6 ± 4.7 mL/kg/min), VEpeak (80.2 ± 22.2 and 33.2 ± 12.7 L/min), and RERpeak (1.26 ± 0.08 and 1.13 ± 0.11) were significantly greater in high performers than low performers, respectively (p < 0.05). There was no significant association among VO2peak and any balance task variables; however, there were significant associations between some balance and physiological variables. Conclusions: Findings differentiated high and low performers; however, participants were still well below able-bodied norms of physical capacity. Training to mitigate deconditioning is suggested. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1016 KiB  
Article
Sensors for Wheelchair Tennis: Measuring Trunk and Shoulder Biomechanics and Upper Extremity Vibration during Backhand Stroke
by Yan-Ying Ju, Wan-Ting Chu, Wann-Yun Shieh and Hsin-Yi Kathy Cheng
Sensors 2021, 21(19), 6576; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21196576 - 30 Sep 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2265
Abstract
This study was the first to compare the differences in trunk/shoulder kinematics and impact vibration of the upper extremity during backhand strokes in wheelchair tennis players and the able-bodied players relative to standing and sitting positions, adopting an electromagnetic system along with wearable [...] Read more.
This study was the first to compare the differences in trunk/shoulder kinematics and impact vibration of the upper extremity during backhand strokes in wheelchair tennis players and the able-bodied players relative to standing and sitting positions, adopting an electromagnetic system along with wearable tri-axial accelerometers upon target body segments. A total of 15 wheelchair tennis players and 15 able-bodied tennis players enrolled. Compared to players in standing positions, wheelchair players demonstrated significant larger forward trunk rotation in the pre-preparation, acceleration, and deceleration phase. Significant higher trunk angular velocity/acceleration and shoulder flexion/internal rotation angular velocity/acceleration were also found. When able-bodied players changed from standing to sitting positions, significant changes were observed in the degree of forward rotation of the trunk and shoulder external rotation. These indicated that when the functions of the lower limbs and trunk are lacking or cannot be used effectively, “biomechanical solutions” such as considerable reinforcing movements need to be made before the hitting movement. The differences between wheelchair tennis players and able-bodied players in sitting positions could represent the progress made as the wheelchair players evolve from novices to experts. Knowledge about how sport biomechanics change regarding specific disabilities can facilitate safe and inclusive participation in disability sports such as wheelchair tennis. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1369 KiB  
Article
Motor Synergies Measurement Reveals the Relevant Role of Variability in Reward-Based Learning
by Carla Caballero, Francisco J. Moreno and David Barbado
Sensors 2021, 21(19), 6448; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21196448 - 27 Sep 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1696
Abstract
Currently, it is not fully understood how motor variability is regulated to ease of motor learning processes during reward-based tasks. This study aimed to assess the potential relationship between different dimensions of motor variability (i.e., the motor variability structure and the motor synergies [...] Read more.
Currently, it is not fully understood how motor variability is regulated to ease of motor learning processes during reward-based tasks. This study aimed to assess the potential relationship between different dimensions of motor variability (i.e., the motor variability structure and the motor synergies variability) and the learning rate in a reward-based task developed using a two-axis force sensor in a computer environment. Forty-four participants performed a pretest, a training period, a posttest, and three retests. They had to release a virtual ball to hit a target using a vertical handle attached to a dynamometer in a computer-simulated reward-based task. The participants’ throwing performance, learning ratio, force applied, variability structure (detrended fluctuation analysis, DFA), and motor synergy variability (good and bad variability ratio, GV/BV) were calculated. Participants with higher initial GV/BV displayed greater performance improvements than those with lower GV/BV. DFA did not show any relationship with the learning ratio. These results suggest that exploring a broader range of successful motor synergy combinations to achieve the task goal can facilitate further learning during reward-based tasks. The evolution of the motor variability synergies as an index of the individuals’ learning stages seems to be supported by our study. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 2305 KiB  
Article
A Pressure-Pad-Embedded Treadmill Yields Time-Dependent Errors in Estimating Ground Reaction Force during Walking
by Prabhat Pathak and Jooeun Ahn
Sensors 2021, 21(16), 5511; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21165511 - 17 Aug 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2994
Abstract
Accurate and reliable vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) measurement is essential in various biomechanical and clinical studies. Recently, pressure–pad-embedded treadmills have been widely used for VGRF measurement as a relatively less expensive option than the force platform-mounted treadmills. Prior studies have shown that [...] Read more.
Accurate and reliable vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) measurement is essential in various biomechanical and clinical studies. Recently, pressure–pad-embedded treadmills have been widely used for VGRF measurement as a relatively less expensive option than the force platform-mounted treadmills. Prior studies have shown that the popular Zebris treadmill is reliable when used to measure peak VGRF for short walking sessions. However, comprehensive evaluation of human walking requires information of gait parameters over sufficient gait cycles. In this study, we quantify the long-term temporal changes in VGRF values measured by the Zebris treadmill. Twenty participants walked on the treadmill for 10 min twice, with 10 min rest between trials. We found an evident decline in the measured VGRF and impulse over time for both trials. The Zebris system also consistently yielded the lower VGRF values during the second trials. These results indicate that the Zebris treadmill is unreliable in measuring VGRF during walking, and a 10 min break is not enough for the embedded sensors to recover their sensitivity. We provided a way to resolve these time-dependent errors; using the impulse-momentum theorem and collected kinematics of the participants, we formulated a curve-fitting model encapsulating the growing VGRF estimation error. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 285 KiB  
Article
Gait Variability and Complexity during Single and Dual-Task Walking on Different Surfaces in Outdoor Environment
by Denisa Nohelova, Lucia Bizovska, Nicolas Vuillerme and Zdenek Svoboda
Sensors 2021, 21(14), 4792; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21144792 - 14 Jul 2021
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3028
Abstract
Nowadays, gait assessment in the real life environment is gaining more attention. Therefore, it is desirable to know how some factors, such as surfaces (natural, artificial) or dual-tasking, influence real life gait pattern. The aim of this study was to assess gait variability [...] Read more.
Nowadays, gait assessment in the real life environment is gaining more attention. Therefore, it is desirable to know how some factors, such as surfaces (natural, artificial) or dual-tasking, influence real life gait pattern. The aim of this study was to assess gait variability and gait complexity during single and dual-task walking on different surfaces in an outdoor environment. Twenty-nine healthy young adults aged 23.31 ± 2.26 years (18 females, 11 males) walked at their preferred walking speed on three different surfaces (asphalt, cobbles, grass) in single-task and in two dual-task conditions (manual task—carrying a cup filled with water, cognitive task—subtracting the number 7). A triaxial inertial sensor attached to the lower trunk was used to record trunk acceleration during gait. From 15 strides, sample entropy (SampEn) as an indicator of gait complexity and root mean square (RMS) as an indicator of gait variability were computed. The findings demonstrate that in an outdoor environment, the surfaces significantly impacted only gait variability, not complexity, and that the tasks affected both gait variability and complexity in young healthy adults. Full article
20 pages, 10204 KiB  
Article
Frailty Level Classification of the Community Elderly Using Microsoft Kinect-Based Skeleton Pose: A Machine Learning Approach
by Ghasem Akbari, Mohammad Nikkhoo, Lizhen Wang, Carl P. C. Chen, Der-Sheng Han, Yang-Hua Lin, Hung-Bin Chen and Chih-Hsiu Cheng
Sensors 2021, 21(12), 4017; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21124017 - 10 Jun 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3762
Abstract
Frailty is one of the most important geriatric syndromes, which can be associated with increased risk for incident disability and hospitalization. Developing a real-time classification model of elderly frailty level could be beneficial for designing a clinical predictive assessment tool. Hence, the objective [...] Read more.
Frailty is one of the most important geriatric syndromes, which can be associated with increased risk for incident disability and hospitalization. Developing a real-time classification model of elderly frailty level could be beneficial for designing a clinical predictive assessment tool. Hence, the objective of this study was to predict the elderly frailty level utilizing the machine learning approach on skeleton data acquired from a Kinect sensor. Seven hundred and eighty-seven community elderly were recruited in this study. The Kinect data were acquired from the elderly performing different functional assessment exercises including: (1) 30-s arm curl; (2) 30-s chair sit-to-stand; (3) 2-min step; and (4) gait analysis tests. The proposed methodology was successfully validated by gender classification with accuracies up to 84 percent. Regarding frailty level evaluation and prediction, the results indicated that support vector classifier (SVC) and multi-layer perceptron (MLP) are the most successful estimators in prediction of the Fried’s frailty level with median accuracies up to 97.5 percent. The high level of accuracy achieved with the proposed methodology indicates that ML modeling can identify the risk of frailty in elderly individuals based on evaluating the real-time skeletal movements using the Kinect sensor. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 7796 KiB  
Article
Stochastic-Biomechanic Modeling and Recognition of Human Movement Primitives, in Industry, Using Wearables
by Brenda Elizabeth Olivas-Padilla, Sotiris Manitsaris, Dimitrios Menychtas and Alina Glushkova
Sensors 2021, 21(7), 2497; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21072497 - 03 Apr 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2471
Abstract
In industry, ergonomists apply heuristic methods to determine workers’ exposure to ergonomic risks; however, current methods are limited to evaluating postures or measuring the duration and frequency of professional tasks. The work described here aims to deepen ergonomic analysis by using joint angles [...] Read more.
In industry, ergonomists apply heuristic methods to determine workers’ exposure to ergonomic risks; however, current methods are limited to evaluating postures or measuring the duration and frequency of professional tasks. The work described here aims to deepen ergonomic analysis by using joint angles computed from inertial sensors to model the dynamics of professional movements and the collaboration between joints. This work is based on the hypothesis that with these models, it is possible to forecast workers’ posture and identify the joints contributing to the motion, which can later be used for ergonomic risk prevention. The modeling was based on the Gesture Operational Model, which uses autoregressive models to learn the dynamics of the joints by assuming associations between them. Euler angles were used for training to avoid forecasting errors such as bone stretching and invalid skeleton configurations, which commonly occur with models trained with joint positions. The statistical significance of the assumptions of each model was computed to determine the joints most involved in the movements. The forecasting performance of the models was evaluated, and the selection of joints was validated, by achieving a high gesture recognition performance. Finally, a sensitivity analysis was conducted to investigate the response of the system to disturbances and their effect on the posture. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 8847 KiB  
Article
Marker Placement Reliability and Objectivity for Biomechanical Cohort Study: Healthy Aging in Industrial Environment (HAIE—Program 4)
by Jan Malus, Jiri Skypala, Julia Freedman Silvernail, Jaroslav Uchytil, Joseph Hamill, Tomas Barot and Daniel Jandacka
Sensors 2021, 21(5), 1830; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21051830 - 05 Mar 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3621
Abstract
In large cohort studies, due to the time-consuming nature of the measurement of movement biomechanics, more than one evaluator needs to be involved. This may increase the potential occurrence of error due to inaccurate positioning of markers to the anatomical locations. The purpose [...] Read more.
In large cohort studies, due to the time-consuming nature of the measurement of movement biomechanics, more than one evaluator needs to be involved. This may increase the potential occurrence of error due to inaccurate positioning of markers to the anatomical locations. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and objectivity of lower limb segments length by multiple evaluators in a large cohort study concerning healthy aging in an industrial environment. A total of eight evaluators performed marker placements on five participants on three different days. Evaluators placed markers bilaterally on specific anatomical locations of the pelvis, thigh, shank and foot. On the right foot, markers were placed in anatomical locations to define a multi-segmental foot model. The position of the marker at the anatomical locations was recorded by a motion capture system. The reliability and objectivity of lower limb segment lengths was determined by the intraclass correlation coefficient of a two-way random model and of the two-way mixed model, respectively. For all evaluators for all segments, the average reliability and objectivity was greater than 0.8, except for the metatarsus segment (0.683). Based on these results, we can conclude that multiple evaluators can be engaged in a large cohort study in the placement of anatomical markers. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1402 KiB  
Article
The Validity of MotionSense HRV in Estimating Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity under Free-Living and Simulated Activity Settings
by Sunku Kwon, Neng Wan, Ryan D. Burns, Timothy A. Brusseau, Youngwon Kim, Santosh Kumar, Emre Ertin, David W. Wetter, Cho Y. Lam, Ming Wen and Wonwoo Byun
Sensors 2021, 21(4), 1411; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21041411 - 18 Feb 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2800
Abstract
MotionSense HRV is a wrist-worn accelerometery-based sensor that is paired with a smartphone and is thus capable of measuring the intensity, duration, and frequency of physical activity (PA). However, little information is available on the validity of the MotionSense HRV. Therefore, the purpose [...] Read more.
MotionSense HRV is a wrist-worn accelerometery-based sensor that is paired with a smartphone and is thus capable of measuring the intensity, duration, and frequency of physical activity (PA). However, little information is available on the validity of the MotionSense HRV. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the concurrent validity of the MotionSense HRV in estimating sedentary behavior (SED) and PA. A total of 20 healthy adults (age: 32.5 ± 15.1 years) wore the MotionSense HRV and ActiGraph GT9X accelerometer (GT9X) on their non-dominant wrist for seven consecutive days during free-living conditions. Raw acceleration data from the devices were summarized into average time (min/day) spent in SED and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Additionally, using the Cosemed K5 indirect calorimetry system (K5) as a criterion measure, the validity of the MotionSense HRV was examined in simulated free-living conditions. Pearson correlations, mean absolute percent errors (MAPE), Bland–Altman (BA) plots, and equivalence tests were used to examine the validity of the MotionSense HRV against criterion measures. The correlations between the MotionSense HRV and GT9X were high and the MAPE were low for both the SED (r = 0.99, MAPE = 2.4%) and MVPA (r = 0.97, MAPE = 9.1%) estimates under free-living conditions. BA plots illustrated that there was no systematic bias between the MotionSense HRV and criterion measures. The estimates of SED and MVPA from the MotionSense HRV were significantly equivalent to those from the GT9X; the equivalence zones were set at 16.5% for SED and 29% for MVPA. The estimates of SED and PA from the MotionSense HRV were less comparable when compared with those from the K5. The MotionSense HRV yielded comparable estimates for SED and PA when compared with the GT9X accelerometer under free-living conditions. We confirmed the promising application of the MotionSense HRV for monitoring PA patterns for practical and research purposes. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 5915 KiB  
Article
Analysis of Whole-Body Coordination Patterning in Successful and Faulty Spikes Using Self-Organising Map-Based Cluster Analysis: A Secondary Analysis
by Javad Sarvestan, Zdeněk Svoboda, Fatemeh Alaei and Franky Mulloy
Sensors 2021, 21(4), 1345; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21041345 - 14 Feb 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1819
Abstract
This study investigated the whole-body coordination patterning in successful and faulty spikes using self-organising map-based cluster analysis. Ten young, elite volleyball players (aged 15.5 ± 0.7 years) performed 60 volleyball spikes in a real-game environment. Adopting the cluster analysis, based on a self-organising [...] Read more.
This study investigated the whole-body coordination patterning in successful and faulty spikes using self-organising map-based cluster analysis. Ten young, elite volleyball players (aged 15.5 ± 0.7 years) performed 60 volleyball spikes in a real-game environment. Adopting the cluster analysis, based on a self-organising map, whole-body coordination patterning was explored between successful and faulty spikes of individual players. The self-organising maps (SOMs) portrayed whole body, lower and upper limb coordination dissimilarities during the jump phase and the ball impact phases between the successful and faulty spikes. The cluster analysis illustrated that the whole body, upper limb and lower limb coordination patterning of each individual’s successful spikes were similar to their faulty spikes. Range of motion patterning also demonstrated no differences in kinematics between spike outcomes. Further, the upper limb angular velocity patterning of the players’ successful/faulty spikes were similar. The SPM analysis portrayed significant differences between the normalized upper limb angular velocities from 35% to 45% and from 76% to 100% of the spike movement. Although the lower limb angular velocities are vital for achieving higher jumps in volleyball spikes, the results of this study portrayed that the upper limb angular velocities distinguish the differences between successful and faulty spikes among the attackers. This confirms the fact that volleyball coaches should shift their focus toward the upper limb velocity and coordination training for higher success rates in spiking for volleyball attackers. Full article
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

2020

Jump to: 2023, 2022, 2021

19 pages, 296 KiB  
Article
Foot-Worn Inertial Sensors Are Reliable to Assess Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Axial Spondyloarthritis under Single and Dual Task Walking in Axial Spondyloarthritis
by Julie Soulard, Jacques Vaillant, Romain Balaguier, Athan Baillet, Philippe Gaudin and Nicolas Vuillerme
Sensors 2020, 20(22), 6453; https://doi.org/10.3390/s20226453 - 12 Nov 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2261
Abstract
The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the relative and absolute reliability of gait parameters during walking in single- and dual-task conditions in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), (2) to evaluate the absolute and relative reliability of dual task effects (DTE) [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the relative and absolute reliability of gait parameters during walking in single- and dual-task conditions in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), (2) to evaluate the absolute and relative reliability of dual task effects (DTE) parameters, and (3) to determine the number of trials required to ensure reliable gait assessment, in patients with axSpA. Twenty patients with axSpa performed a 10-m walk test in single- and dual-task conditions, three times for each condition. Spatiotemporal, symmetry, and DTE gait parameters were calculated from foot-worn inertial sensors. The relative reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients-ICC) and absolute reliability (standard error of measurement-SEM and minimum detectable change-MDC) were calculated for these parameters in each condition. Spatiotemporal gait parameters showed good to excellent reliability in both conditions (0.59 < ICC < 0.90). The reliability of symmetry and DTE parameters was low. ICC, SEM, and MDC were better when using the mean of the second and the third trials. Spatiotemporal gait parameters obtained from foot-worn inertial sensors assessed in patients with axSpA in single- and dual-task conditions are reliable. However, symmetry and DTE parameters seem less reliable and need to be interpreted with caution. Finally, better reliability of gait parameters was found when using the mean of the 2nd and the 3rd trials. Full article
10 pages, 246 KiB  
Article
Spanish Costaleros’ Physical Activity and Their Quality of Life
by José Luis Ubago-Jiménez, Félix Zurita-Ortega, Pilar Puertas-Molero and Gabriel González-Valero
Sensors 2020, 20(19), 5641; https://doi.org/10.3390/s20195641 - 02 Oct 2020
Viewed by 1872
Abstract
(1) Physical activity is one of the most influencing factors in people’ quality of life. Likewise, the costaleros of the Holy Week of Andalusia (Spain) carry out an important effort with high intensity during an extended time without any preparation. This study was [...] Read more.
(1) Physical activity is one of the most influencing factors in people’ quality of life. Likewise, the costaleros of the Holy Week of Andalusia (Spain) carry out an important effort with high intensity during an extended time without any preparation. This study was the aim of knowing the intensity of the physical activity practiced by the costaleros in relation to their quality of life. (2) A transversal study was carried out with 1057 costaleros in Andalusia (Spain), where 930 were male and 127 female, between the ages of 18–61 years old (31.26 ± 7.60). For this purpose, descriptive, inferential, and correlative analyses were developed. Accelerometers (ActiGraph) were used during the procession to know the intensity of physical activity and the SF-36 test to know the self-perceived state of health and quality of life. (3) The intensity of physical activity practiced by costaleros is moderate, and it is related with their quality of life. In addition, positive associations are found between general health and physical activity. (4) Participants’ quality of life is associated with physical activity and freedom from injury. In addition, the measurement by accelerometry provides real data on the intensity of the effort made. Full article
Back to TopTop