A Newly Developed Wearable Device for Continuous Measurement of Gait- Induced Accelerations in Daily Activities

Abstract

For assessment of gait disorders, speed and stride are measured during 10m-walking test. However, changes in these two parameters are nonspecific since they are observed in various gait disorders. In addition, the10-m walking is short and reflects only one aspect of daily living and the results could be affected by emotional stress. To examine the step cycles and forces for step-in and kick off, which are directly controlled by a complex neural circuitry, during daily walking and over a long period of time, we developed a new wearing device, the portable gait rhythmogram (PGR), which monitors gait-induced accelerations for up to 70 hours. Quantitative analysis of the gait acceleration cycle and amplitude has allowed characterization of the bradykinematic features of gait disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease: 1) A decrease in amplitude of gait acceleration in the early stages of the disease, which is compensated by fast stepping. 2) Subjective motor fluctuation did not necessarily coincide with changes in gait parameters. The results suggest that the rhythms-force correlation is set by the basal ganglia, but can be modified by the cerebral cortex. Analysis of voluntary gait in daily life could enhance our understanding of the pathomechanisms of gait disorders.

Early clinical evaluation of total hip arthroplasty by three-dimensional gait analysis and muscle strength testing

“…Data were collected at a sampling frequency of 100 Hz and were stored on a microSD card in the device for subsequent analysis. When recording is completed, the absolute values of the acceleration vectors are calculated and displayed graphically on a PC (6). We studied normal walking (walk at a normal pace) and fast walking (walk as fast as possible but without falling) for a distance of 10 m in the 46 patients by measuring the walking speed, step length, and gait trajectory.…”

Long-term Monitoring Gait Analysis Using a Wearable Device in Daily Lives of Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: The Efficacy of Selegiline Hydrochloride for Gait Disturbance

“…When the probability distribution of the 10-min averaged accelerations was calculated, the curve fit a gamma distribution. The mean was calculated and called the amount of overall movements per 24 h for each subject ( 8 ). The intersubject mean value of the amount of overall movements per 24 h was 0.69 ± 0.19 m/s 2 in healthy controls (Figures 1 A,D, 2 A,D and 3 A,D, red line).…”

“…Changes in gait cycle and gait acceleration amplitude were examined during the 24 h. The cycle and amplitude represent the mean values recorded every hour. Data were excluded when the step rate was <20/h ( 8 , 13 ).…”

“…The gait-related acceleration amplitudes and the duration of gait cycles were averaged for each 10-min recording and these averaged values were plotted. The averaged logarithmic values showed normal distribution, and the slope of the regression line was calculated using principal component analysis ( 8 , 13 – 16 ). The regression line, obtained from the summed average of 17 healthy controls, is also shown (Figures 1 B,E, 2 B,E and 3 B,E, red line).…”

“…Since this score does not quantify tendencies in gait and posture improvement or deterioration, various kinds of gait analyses of PD patients have also been performed ( 6 ). However, these analyses do not necessarily elucidate gait deficits because of the following two reasons, as we previously reviewed ( 8 ).…”