Biomechanics beyond the lab: Remote technology for osteoarthritis patient data—A scoping review

Abstract

The objective of this project is to produce a review of available and validated technologies suitable for gathering biomechanical and functional research data in patients with osteoarthritis (OA), outside of a traditionally fixed laboratory setting. A scoping review was conducted using defined search terms across three databases (Scopus, Ovid MEDLINE, and PEDro), and additional sources of information from grey literature were added. One author carried out an initial title and abstract review, and two authors independently completed full-text screenings. Out of the total 5,164 articles screened, 75 were included based on inclusion criteria covering a range of technologies in articles published from 2015. These were subsequently categorised by technology type, parameters measured, level of remoteness, and a separate table of commercially available systems. The results concluded that from the growing number of available and emerging technologies, there is a well-established range in use and further in development. Of particular note are the wide-ranging available inertial measurement unit systems and the breadth of technology available to record basic gait spatiotemporal measures with highly beneficial and informative functional outputs. With the majority of technologies categorised as suitable for part-remote use, the number of technologies that are usable and fully remote is rare and they usually employ smartphone software to enable this. With many systems being developed for camera-based technology, such technology is likely to increase in usability and availability as computational models are being developed with increased sensitivities to recognise patterns of movement, enabling data collection in the wider environment and reducing costs and creating a better understanding of OA patient biomechanical and functional movement data.

Validation of 3D Knee Kinematics during Gait on Treadmill with an Instrumented Knee Brace

“…The monitoring system must be minimally burdensome for the patient, in order to obtain natural movement data and to ensure high patient acceptance levels regarding the technology. Therefore, quick, easy-to-use calibration is increasingly becoming a benefit for remote patient monitoring [ 14 , 15 ].…”

Novel Multi-View RGB Sensor for Continuous Motion Analysis in Kinetic Chain Exercises: A Pilot Study for Simultaneous Validity and Intra-Test Reliability

“…Using the latest technologies and equipment, various studies have analyzed compensation and abnormal posture, which involve movements outside the body’s established standard range [ 4 , 5 , 6 ]. Analyzing damaged human movements and asymmetric postures can quickly identify injury risk factors, reducing patient recovery time and enabling more effective treatment plans [ 7 , 8 ]. Most published studies involving human kinematics have used three-dimensional (3D) motion analysis systems, which are expensive, time consuming, and generally not widely available in the clinical field [ 9 ].…”

“…It is parallel to the ground, separates the upper and lower parts, and is further divided into the superior and inner parts. Rotation typically occurs in this plane [ 6 , 7 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]. To explain human movement, the kinetic chain is divided into an open kinetic chain (OKC) and a closed kinetic chain (CKC).…”