Concurrent Validity, Test-Retest Reliability, and Sensitivity to Change of a Single Body-Fixed Sensor for Gait Analysis during Rollator-Assisted Walking in Acute Geriatric Patients

Abstract

Body-fixed sensor (BFS) technology offers portable, low-cost and easy-to-use alternatives to laboratory-bound equipment for analyzing an individual’s gait. Psychometric properties of single BFS systems for gait analysis in older adults who require a rollator for walking are, however, unknown. The study’s aim was to evaluate the concurrent validity, test-retest-reliability, and sensitivity to change of a BFS (DynaPort MoveTest; McRoberts B.V., The Hague, The Netherlands) for measuring gait parameters during rollator-assisted walking. Fifty-eight acutely hospitalized older patients equipped with the BFS at the lower back completed a 10 m walkway using a rollator. Concurrent validity was assessed against the Mobility Lab (APDM Inc.; Portland, OR, USA), test-retest reliability over two trials within a 15 min period, and sensitivity to change in patients with improved, stable and worsened 4 m usual gait speed over hospital stay. Bland–Altman plots and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for gait speed, cadence, step length, step time, and walk ratio indicate good to excellent agreement between the BFS and the Mobility Lab (ICC2,1 = 0.87–0.99) and the repeated trials (ICC2,1 = 0.83–0.92). Moderate to large standardized response means were observed in improved (gait speed, cadence, step length, walk ratio: 0.62–0.99) and worsened patients (gait speed, cadence, step time: −0.52 to −0.85), while those in stable patients were trivial to small (all gait parameters: −0.04–0.40). The BFS appears to be a valid, reliable and sensitive instrument for measuring spatio-temporal gait parameters during rollator-assisted walking in geriatric patients.

Gait Analysis Using Accelerometry Data from a Single Smartphone: Agreement and Consistency between a Smartphone Application and Gold-Standard Gait Analysis System

“…Previous attempts to evaluate the potential use of a single commercially available IMU designed for gait analysis to measure gait spatio-temporal parameters reported similar results: good to excellent concurrent validity of measured gait parameters [8,26,27]. However, all positioned the IMU on the lumbar spine to track the kinematics of the center of body mass.…”

“…To date, gold-standard gait analysis systems include optical motion-capture systems, force plates, or expensive instrumented walkways. They also require high proficiency and both a long set-up time and manual post-processing that limits their accessibility and feasibility in both clinical practice and research [8]. By contrast, wearable systems are promising [7][8][9].…”

“…They also require high proficiency and both a long set-up time and manual post-processing that limits their accessibility and feasibility in both clinical practice and research [8]. By contrast, wearable systems are promising [7][8][9]. Remote, home-based evaluation can provide healthcare professionals with valuable and accessible information regarding patients' clinical progress [10] and may pave the way for gait analysis in larger population cohorts for whom the current gold-standard methods are impractical.…”

Using Machine Learning Algorithms for Identifying Gait Parameters Suitable to Evaluate Subtle Changes in Gait in People with Multiple Sclerosis

“…Two further sensors were attached to the left and right wrist, 4 cm from the back of the hand [45]. The last two sensors for spatiotemporal gait parameters were placed on the forefoot [46,47]. During the 2MWT, subjects walked back and forth along a 35-m straight corridor in the MSC at a self-selected velocity.…”

Automated Analysis of the Two-Minute Walk Test in Clinical Practice Using Accelerometer Data

“…To measure the arm swing, two sensors were placed at the left and right wrist, 4 cm from the dorsum of the hand [38]. The last two sensors for spatiotemporal gait parameters were attached to the forefoot [39,40]. Each sensor unit contained a threeaxis accelerometer, three-axis gyroscope, and a magnetometer.…”