Validation of inertial measurement units for the assessment of trunk control in subjects with spinal cord injury

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2023 · DOI: 10.1080/10790268.2021.1975083 · Published: January 1, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Biomechanics

Simple Explanation

Trunk control is a critical aspect of rehabilitation for individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI). This study validates the use of accelerometers to reliably and accurately measure trunk control in individuals with SCI. Accelerometers are attached to the trunk and record movement data during various static and dynamic tasks. The data is then analyzed to assess trunk control performance. The study found that accelerometer parameters are reliable, valid, and sensitive in evaluating trunk control in people with SCI. This could be useful for tracking patient progress and the effectiveness of clinical interventions.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

27 people with SCI and 15 people without SCI

Evidence Level

Cross-sectional study

Key Findings

1
Reliable IMU data were obtained in people with SCI and without SCI, of all accelerometer axes, metrics, and tested items of the CTCT.
2
Ten acceleration parameters showed construct and criterion validity.
3
Accelerometer parameters are reliable, valid, and sensitive to evaluate TC in people with SCI.

Research Summary

This study validated the use of accelerometers to assess trunk control (TC) in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). The researchers found that specific accelerometer parameters are reliable and valid measures for evaluating both static and dynamic TC, showing correlation with the Clinical Trunk Control Test (CTCT) scores. The study concludes that accelerometers can be a useful tool for assessing TC progression and the effectiveness of clinical interventions in people with SCI.

Practical Implications

Clinical Assessment

Validated IMU parameters can be integrated into clinical assessments to provide objective and quantitative measures of trunk control.

Rehabilitation Monitoring

Accelerometers can be used to monitor patient progress during rehabilitation and to evaluate the effectiveness of different interventions.

Research Applications

The validated parameters can be used in research studies to investigate trunk control mechanisms and to develop new rehabilitation strategies.

Study Limitations

1
Further studies are needed for the discriminative capacity of accelerometers for gait capacity and neurological level of injury.
2
Variability in the collected accelerometers could affect data processing.
3
Our proposed method is not guaranteed if experts with validated CTCT training and accelerometry knowledge are not involved.

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