Smart Tracking and Wearables: Techniques in Gait Analysis and Movement in Pathological Aging

Abstract

In this chapter, we describe the aging process and, more specifically, the pathological aging, associated with neurodegenerative diseases and its relation with gait. Then, we explain the importance of using quantitative gait analysis techniques using wearables and other technologies to diagnose different conditions that can be complex to discriminate using only the physician naked-eye diagnosis. We analyze different approaches used for gait analysis using wearables and affordable devices like inertial units (IMU), accelerometers, and depth cameras like Microsoft Kinect or Intel's RealSense, which have been available at least in an academic context but will be available for daily use in the near future.

Objective Assessment of Walking Impairments in Myotonic Dystrophy by Means of a Wearable Technology and a Novel Severity Index

“…On the other end, wearable technology has been proving to produce convincing and useful results in evaluating motor impairments of subjects suffering from (among others) Parkinson disease [10][11][12], attention deficit hyperactivity disorder/developmental coordination disorder (ADHD/DCD) [13], neuro-degenerative diseases [14], or spinal cord injury [15], when measured in a clinical environment, and in evaluating motor (dis)abilities of subjects when doing daily chores in home environment too [16][17][18]. The effective sensitivity of instruments as accelerometers, gyroscopes [19,20], and electromyography (EMG) [21], supports and extends the naked-eye analysis of the medical doctors [22] for the balance and gait analysis: Chapron et al adopted wearable IMUs on patients during physical rehabilitation programs within domestic environments [23]. Storm et al found that IMUs applied to the six-minute walk trial can provide clinically meaningful information [24].…”

Development of gait rehabilitation devices: a review of the literature

“…For example, the hip joint allows for three DoFs: flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, and internal/external rotation, the knee joint has two DoFs: flexion/extension and internal/external rotation, and the ankle joint has three DoFs: dorsiflexion/plantarflexion, abduction/adduction, and internal/external rotation Pamungkas et al (2019). During rehabilitation, the movements of the joints can be continuously monitored through various methods, as reviewed by Faisal et al (2019), and the information gathered from gait analysis is used to better understand the cause of gait abnormalities and create an appropriate treatment plan for the patient's limitations and mobility goals Mu˜noz et al (2019); Tunca et al (2017). In addition, the range of motion of each jointthe ability to move to its full potential in different directions and distances-account for age, gender, and other factors Norkin and White (2016); Greene and Heckman (1994); Soucie et al (2011).…”