The SpinalMeter biometrical assessment to improve posture diagnosis in school-age girls: a validation study

Abstract

Introduction: Assessing spinal deformities using an X-ray radiation is the method of choice for posture diagnosis. It is also used for the evaluation of the degree of correction, brace fit, and spinal balance as well as for further management decisions. However, multiple X-ray exposures during control visits could be too burdensome for children. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the precision and repeatability of measurement of the variables obtained by a fast, simple postural evaluation in children by the SpinalMeter. Material and methods: The measurements of the angle of trunk rotation (ATR) and SpinalMeter posture assessments were performed 8 to 10 times in a short period of time (6 s). The overall of 300 photos (SpinalMeter) and 1020 measurements (asymmetry, distance between anthropometric points as well as ATR) were obtained from 6 girls (8–15 years old). The validation study comprised of the repeatability, interclass correlation coefficient (Qw) and relative standard deviation (rSD) measurements. Results and discussion: The measurements of the distance between acromion–popliteal fossa, acromion–iliac crest, and acromion–posterior superior iliac spine obtained by SpinalMeter were clearly repeatable (Qw > 0.9). The scapular and pelvic asymmetry in standing and sitting positions were highly repeatable and had low rSD (e.g. for scapular asymmetry 5.6%–80.3%; Qw > 0.8). Conclusions: The precise and reliable postural biometrical measurements were performed by SpinalMeter in the case of the distance between anthropometric points and asymmetry of pelvis and scapula. These measurements could be useful in the assessment of girl’s posture when visiting the pediatrician.

Contactless Vital Signs Monitoring From Videos Recorded With Digital Cameras: An Overview

“…Differently, only few studies investigated the potentialities for monitoring BP and SpO 2 , thus further validation studies are needed. Consequently, under certain experimental conditions (i.e., absence of body movements, adequate environmental light, and appropriate calibrations), the use of camera-based technologies can favor the remote monitoring of physiological quantities, that until now are measured with wearable devices or traditional hardware, with enormous potentialities in the remote personal health status assessment, clinical follow-up and in the case of integrated clinical exams (e.g., vital signs estimation during a postural evaluation with camera-based approaches; Koumbourlis, 2006;Kamelska-Sadowska et al, 2020).…”