Validity and reliability of a wearable insole pressure system for measuring gait parameters to identify safety hazards in construction

Antwi‐Afari, Maxwell Fordjour; Li, Heng; Seo, Jongbum; Anwer, Shahnawaz; Yevu, Sitsofe Kwame; Wu, Zezhou

doi:10.1108/ecam-05-2020-0330

Cited by 18 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 47 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Current results are coherent with other studies examining the test and retest reliability of insole-based sensors [8][9][10][11][12][14][15][16]23,28,29]. However, the differences in the specific type of sensors used [16,30] and methodological limitations such as various spatiotemporal gait variables [13,28], several motor tasks [27,30] or the use of non-typical populations, do not allow direct comparisons of the results.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Test-Retest Reliability of PODOSmart® Gait Analysis Insoles

Loukovitis

Ziagkas

Zekakos³

et al. 2021

Sensors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

It is recognized that gait analysis is a powerful tool used to capture human locomotion and quantify the related parameters. PODOSmart® insoles have been designed to provide accurate measurements for gait analysis. PODOSmart® insoles are lightweight, slim and cost-effective. A recent publication presented the characteristics and data concerning the validity of PODOSmart® insoles in gait analysis. In literature, there is still no evidence about the repeatability of PODOSmart® gait analysis system. Such evidence is essential in order to use this device in both research and clinical settings. The aim of the present study was to assess the repeatability of PODOSmart® system. In this context, it was hypothesized that the parameters of gait analysis captured by PODOSmart® would be repeatable. In a sample consisting of 22 healthy male adults, participants performed two walking trials on a six-meter walkway. The ICC values for 28 gait variables provided by PODOSmart® indicated good to excellent test-retest reliability, ranging from 0.802 to 0.997. The present findings confirm that PODOSmart® gait analysis insoles present excellent repeatability in gait analysis parameters. These results offer additional evidence regarding the reliability of this gait analysis tool.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 73%

“…New low-cost devices have been developed to fill the gap in this sector [23]. However, the study of their validity and accuracy is still ongoing [2,26,27].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Test-Retest Reliability of PODOSmart® Gait Analysis Insoles

Loukovitis

Ziagkas

Zekakos³

et al. 2021

Sensors

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Recent advancements and feasibility of wearable sensors (e.g., photoplethysmography, insole sensors, etc.) in the construction industry have made possible a real-time monitoring of biomechanical and physiological data to measure gait parameters, dynamic balance, and physical exertion without interfering worker's daily activities (Edirisinghe, 2019, Antwi-Afari et al, 2020b, Antwi-Afari et al, 2019, Kazar and Comu, 2021, Anwer et al, 2021a. For example, Antwi-Afari et al (2020b) indicated an excellent test-retest reliability (Intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.91) and good validity (Intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.75) of a wearable insole pressure system to measure gait parameters in a laboratory setting.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fifteen healthy students aged 18 years or older (Mean age, 31.5 ± 2.6 years) were recruited by convenient sampling. Novel commercially available wearable insoles with plantar pressure sensors (OpenGo system, Moticon SCIENCE Sensor, Insole, GmbH, Munich, Germany) as shown in Figure 1 were used to quantify the gait and dynamic parameters (Refai et al, 2018, Stöggl and Martiner, 2017, Antwi-Afari et al, 2020b. The smart insoles with different sizes can fit in any shoe.…”

Section: Participantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of load carrying techniques on gait parameters, dynamic balance, and physiological parameters during a manual material handling task

Anwer

Antwi‐Afari

et al. 2021

ECAM

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PurposeSince construction workers often need to carry various types of loads in their daily routine, they are at risk of sustaining musculoskeletal injuries. Additionally, carrying a load during walking may disturb their walking balance and lead to fall injuries among construction workers. Different load carrying techniques may also cause different extents of physical exertion. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of different load-carrying techniques on gait parameters, dynamic balance, and physiological parameters in asymptomatic individuals on both stable and unstable surfaces.Design/methodology/approachFifteen asymptomatic male participants (mean age: 31.5 ± 2.6 years) walked along an 8-m walkway on flat and foam surfaces with and without a load thrice using three different techniques (e.g. load carriage on the head, on the dominant shoulder, and in both hands). Temporal gait parameters (e.g. gait speed, cadence, and double support time), gait symmetry (e.g. step time, stance time, and swing time symmetry), and dynamic balance parameters [e.g. anteroposterior and mediolateral center of pressure (CoP) displacement, and CoP velocity] were evaluated. Additionally, the heart rate (HR) and electrodermal activity (EDA) was assessed to estimate physiological parameters.FindingsThe gait speed was significantly higher when the load was carried in both hands compared to other techniques (Hand load, 1.02 ms vs Head load, 0.82 ms vs Shoulder load, 0.78 ms). Stride frequency was significantly decreased during load carrying on the head than the load in both hands (46.5 vs 51.7 strides/m). Step, stance, and swing time symmetry were significantly poorer during load carrying on the shoulder than the load in both hands (Step time symmetry ration, 1.10 vs 1.04; Stance time symmetry ratio, 1.11 vs 1.05; Swing time symmetry ratio, 1.11 vs 1.04). The anteroposterior (Shoulder load, 17.47 mm vs Head load, 21.10 mm vs Hand load, −5.10 mm) and mediolateral CoP displacements (Shoulder load, −0.57 mm vs Head load, −1.53 mm vs Hand load, −3.37 ms) significantly increased during load carrying on the shoulder or head compared to a load in both hands. The HR (Head load, 85.2 beats/m vs Shoulder load, 77.5 beats/m vs No load, 69.5 beats/m) and EDA (Hand load, 14.0 µS vs Head load, 14.3 µS vs Shoulder load, 14.1 µS vs No load, 9.0 µS) were significantly larger during load carrying than no load.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings suggest that carrying loads in both hands yields better gait symmetry and dynamic balance than carrying loads on the dominant shoulder or head. Construction managers/instructors should recommend construction workers to carry loads in both hands to improve their gait symmetry and dynamic balance and to lower their risk of falls.Practical implicationsThe potential changes in gait and balance parameters during various load carrying methods will aid the assessment of fall risk in construction workers during loaded walking. Wearable insole sensors that monitor gait and balance in real-time would enable safety managers to identify workers who are at risk of falling during load carriage due to various reasons (e.g. physical exertion, improper carrying techniques, fatigue). Such technology can also empower them to take the necessary steps to prevent falls.Originality/valueThis is the first study to use wearable insole sensors and a photoplethysmography device to assess the impacts of various load carrying approaches on gait parameters, dynamic balance, and physiological measures (i.e. HR and EDA) while walking on stable and unstable terrains.

show abstract

“…Kim et al [4] study a modified version of an off -the -shelf wearable device while Sakhakarmi and Park [5] propose a wearable, tactile-sensing system as a means of communication. Finally Antwi-Afari et al [6] focus attention on insole, in order to analyze the performance of workers for reasons related to safety on site while Kim and Ho [7] on relationship between wearable technologies and privacy. This latest study also analyzes the social aspects related to these issues, highlighting how facilitating social interaction among users and keeping personal information securely are keys to success in the dissemination of these devices.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coflex: Flexible Bracelet Anti Covid-19 to Protect Construction Workers

Laurini

Rotilio

Berardinis

et al. 2021

Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. To implement the protocol contrasting the diffusion of Covid-19, the employer is required, to ensure the safety and health of the worker at work, to adopt measures related to the control of body temperature (with respect for privacy), the minimum distance during work and all other activities such as breaks, canteen breaks, access to toilets, in addition to the adoption of specifically developed safety procedures, such as e.g. the use of man-down detection devices. In this context, the project aims to illustrate a system able of providing support in the safeguarding of workers' health on construction sites. This system, based on information received from sensors capable of identifying workers' positions (e.g., if less than 1m away) and their vital parameters (e.g., body temperature, gasped breathing), as well as moving objects inside the construction site area (e.g., to check if a worker is passing under a moving crane), will raise early alerts directly to the workers and/or to the central software, with respect for privacy, to immediately activate all the necessary measures to mitigate the risk. The system, based on the data communicated by the various sensors, will store and process them for the purpose of extracting useful information for risk management. The proposed system configured itself as a new product taking advantage from a high Technology Readiness Level maturated from the Smart Safety Belt already developed by some of the authors.

show abstract

Validity and reliability of a wearable insole pressure system for measuring gait parameters to identify safety hazards in construction

Cited by 18 publications

References 47 publications

Test-Retest Reliability of PODOSmart® Gait Analysis Insoles

Test-Retest Reliability of PODOSmart® Gait Analysis Insoles

Effects of load carrying techniques on gait parameters, dynamic balance, and physiological parameters during a manual material handling task

Coflex: Flexible Bracelet Anti Covid-19 to Protect Construction Workers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About