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Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomedical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2023) | Viewed by 25527

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Leandro José Rodrigues Machado

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomechanics, Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
Interests: biomechanics; data analytics; gait analysis; swimming analysis; para-sports analysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Miguel Correia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Interests: sensors; wearables; medical devices; biomedical instrumentation; smart textiles; motion analysis; gait analysis; perception
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue of the Sensors journal is to publish articles on the thematic of human motion, balance, and postural control. Articles covering a wide range of applications and situations where sensors can be employed are foreseen, whether on concrete sensor use or in the treatment of sensor-generated data, in the context of biomechanics:

  • From walking to running.
  • From swimming to jumping.
  • From day-to-day activities to sports motions.
  • For people with and without impairments.
  • From wearable sensors to external sensors.
  • From local to global data integration and data analysis.
  • From IMUs to EMG to ...

Articles found in this Special Issue may contribute to a better understanding of questions such as:

  • How to warrant the correct positioning of wearable sensors? Should more than one sensor be used per body segment? Use complementary types of sensors? Use larger sensors?
  • How smart does a sensor need to be, or a local group of sensors?
  • How to get submillimetre precision with markerless setups for 3D motion analysis? How many people can be followed simultaneously?
  • How to get the system to evaluate in real-life conditions, at home, at work, or outdoors?
  • Can wearable sensor systems help prevent falls or assist balance or gait?
  • How to increase sensor systems’ reliability?

Dr. Leandro José Rodrigues Machado
Dr. Miguel Correia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biomechanics
  • sports
  • day-to-day activities
  • impairments
  • data processing
  • wearable
  • markerless

Published Papers (16 papers)

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Research

24 pages, 7893 KiB  
Article
On-Screen Visual Feedback Effect on Static Balance Assessment with Perturbations
by Ruben Valenzuela, Javier Corral, Mikel Diez, Francisco J. Campa, Saioa Herrero, Erik Macho and Charles Pinto
Sensors 2024, 24(5), 1588; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s24051588 - 29 Feb 2024
Viewed by 460
Abstract
In this study, the novel mobile dynamometric platform, OREKA, was utilized to perform an extensive analysis of the centre of pressure behaviour during different tilt motion exercises. This platform is based on a parallel manipulator mechanism and can perform rotations around both horizontal [...] Read more.
In this study, the novel mobile dynamometric platform, OREKA, was utilized to perform an extensive analysis of the centre of pressure behaviour during different tilt motion exercises. This platform is based on a parallel manipulator mechanism and can perform rotations around both horizontal axes and a vertical translation. A group of participants took part in an experimental campaign involving the completion of a set of exercises. The aim was to evaluate the platform’s potential practical application and investigate the impact of visual on-screen feedback on centre of pressure motion through multiple balance indicators. The use of the OREKA platform enables the study of the impact on a user’s balance control behaviour under different rotational perturbations, depending on the availability of real-time visual feedback on a screen. Furthermore, it presented data identifying postural control variations among clinically healthy individuals. These findings are fundamental to comprehending the dynamics of body balance. Further investigation is needed to explore these initial findings and fully unlock the potential of the OREKA platform for balance assessment methodologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 2985 KiB  
Article
The Effects of Listening to Music on Postural Balance in Middle-Aged Women
by Fatma Ben Waer, Sonia Sahli, Cristina Ioana Alexe, Maria Cristina Man, Dan Iulian Alexe and Lucian Ovidiu Burchel
Sensors 2024, 24(1), 202; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s24010202 - 29 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 904
Abstract
Listening to music has been found to influence postural balance in both healthy participants and certain patients, whereas no study investigates such effects among healthy middle-aged women. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of music on postural balance in middle-aged women. [...] Read more.
Listening to music has been found to influence postural balance in both healthy participants and certain patients, whereas no study investigates such effects among healthy middle-aged women. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of music on postural balance in middle-aged women. Twenty-six healthy women aged between 50 and 55 years participated in this study. A stabilometric platform was used to assess their postural balance by recording the mean center of pressure velocity (VmCOP) in the eyes-opened (OE) and -closed (EC) conditions on both firm and foam surfaces. Our results showed that listening to an excerpt of Mozart’s Jupiter significantly decreased the VmCOP values in two sensory conditions (firm surface/EO: (p < 0.01; 95% CI: 0.27 to 2.22); foam surface/EC: (p < 0.001; 95% CI: 0.48 to 2.44)), but not in the other two conditions (firm surface/EC and foam surface/EO). We concluded that listening to Mozart’s symphony improved postural performance in middle-aged women, even in challenged postural conditions. These enhancements could offer great potential for everyday functioning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 3370 KiB  
Article
Novel Multi-View RGB Sensor for Continuous Motion Analysis in Kinetic Chain Exercises: A Pilot Study for Simultaneous Validity and Intra-Test Reliability
by Junghoon Ahn, Hongtaek Choi, Heehwa Lee, Jinyoung Lee and Hyeong-Dong Kim
Sensors 2023, 23(24), 9635; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s23249635 - 05 Dec 2023
Viewed by 829
Abstract
As the number of musculoskeletal disorders caused by smartphone usage, sedentary lifestyles, and active sports activities increases, there is a growing demand for precise and accurate measurement and evaluation of issues such as incorrect compensation patterns, asymmetrical posture, and limited joint operation range. [...] Read more.
As the number of musculoskeletal disorders caused by smartphone usage, sedentary lifestyles, and active sports activities increases, there is a growing demand for precise and accurate measurement and evaluation of issues such as incorrect compensation patterns, asymmetrical posture, and limited joint operation range. Urgent development of new inspection equipment is necessary to address issues such as convenience, economic feasibility, and post-processing difficulties. Using 4DEYE®, a new multi-view red, green, and blue (RGB) sensor-based motion analysis equipment, and the VICON® ratio, which are infrared-based markers, we conducted a comparative analysis of the simultaneous validity of the joint angle (trajectory) and reliability. In this study, five healthy participants who could perform movements were selected for the pilot study and two movements (Y-balance and side dip) were analyzed. In addition, the ICC (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient) was analyzed using the SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) V.18 while the number of data frames of each equipment was equalized using the MATLAB program. The results revealed that side dips, which are open kinetic chain exercises (intraclass correlation coefficient ICC(2.1), 0.895–0.996), showed very high concordance with the Y-balance test, a closed kinetic chain exercise (ICC(2.1), 0.678–0.990). The joint measurement results were similar regardless of the movement in the open or closed kinetic chain exercise, confirming the high reliability of the newly developed multiview RGB sensor. This is of great significance because we obtained important and fundamental results that can be used in various patterns of exercise movements in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 4941 KiB  
Article
Swimmers’ Effective Actions during the Backstroke Start Technique
by Karla de Jesus, Kelly de Jesus, Luís Mourão, Hélio Roesler, Ricardo J. Fernandes, Mário A. P. Vaz, João Paulo Vilas-Boas and Leandro J. Machado
Sensors 2023, 23(18), 7723; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s23187723 - 07 Sep 2023
Viewed by 970
Abstract
The analysis of the external forces of swimming starts has revealed how swimmers propel themselves out of the block, but data should be properly interpreted to fully understand force-generation mechanisms. This study aimed to assess horizontal and vertical forces in the backstroke start [...] Read more.
The analysis of the external forces of swimming starts has revealed how swimmers propel themselves out of the block, but data should be properly interpreted to fully understand force-generation mechanisms. This study aimed to assess horizontal and vertical forces in the backstroke start based on swimmers’ structural and propulsive actions. Firstly, a simulated structural force was estimated by two transient backstroke-start inter-segmental realistic body positions: a maximally tucked position and an extended one (just before the hands-off and the take-off, respectively). Secondly, 10 competitive backstroke swimmers performed four 15 m maximal backstroke starts with the external forces estimated. Thirdly, the simulated structural force was subtracted from raw horizontal and vertical force data, measured between hands-off and take-off instants, resulting in the propulsive forces. The application of the algorithm has evidenced that backstrokers’ horizontal and vertical simulated-structural-force components contributed to ~40% of total force during start propulsion (~0.2–0.12 s before the take-off), followed by the propulsive horizontal force increment and a progressive vertical component reduction (~0.05 s) with ~20° take-off angle. Based on these findings, researchers and coaches can better guide swimmers as to the proper mechanical strategies to achieve effectiveness in the backstroke start, and to improve direct transfer of resistance training programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 4552 KiB  
Article
Adaptive Control Method for Gait Detection and Classification Devices with Inertial Measurement Unit
by Hyeonjong Kim, Ji-Won Kim and Junghyuk Ko
Sensors 2023, 23(14), 6638; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s23146638 - 24 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1007
Abstract
Cueing and feedback training can be effective in maintaining or improving gait in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. We previously designed a rehabilitation assist device that can detect and classify a user’s gait at only the swing phase of the gait cycle, for the [...] Read more.
Cueing and feedback training can be effective in maintaining or improving gait in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. We previously designed a rehabilitation assist device that can detect and classify a user’s gait at only the swing phase of the gait cycle, for the ease of data processing. In this study, we analyzed the impact of various factors in a gait detection algorithm on the gait detection and classification rate (GDCR). We collected acceleration and angular velocity data from 25 participants (1 male and 24 females with an average age of 62 ± 6 years) using our device and analyzed the data using statistical methods. Based on these results, we developed an adaptive GDCR control algorithm using several equations and functions. We tested the algorithm under various virtual exercise scenarios using two control methods, based on acceleration and angular velocity, and found that the acceleration threshold was more effective in controlling the GDCR (average Spearman correlation −0.9996, p < 0.001) than the gyroscopic threshold. Our adaptive control algorithm was more effective in maintaining the target GDCR than the other algorithms (p < 0.001) with an average error of 0.10, while other tested methods showed average errors of 0.16 and 0.28. This algorithm has good scalability and can be adapted for future gait detection and classification applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 2390 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Anthropometric Variables and Filtering Frequency on Center of Pressure Data
by Jan Jens Koltermann, Philipp Floessel, Franziska Hammerschmidt and Alexander Carl Disch
Sensors 2023, 23(11), 5105; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s23115105 - 26 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 736
Abstract
Good postural control is considered to be a key component of an active lifestyle, and numerous studies have investigated the Center of Pressure (CoP) as a way of identifying motor deficits. However, the optimal frequency range for assessing CoP variables and the effect [...] Read more.
Good postural control is considered to be a key component of an active lifestyle, and numerous studies have investigated the Center of Pressure (CoP) as a way of identifying motor deficits. However, the optimal frequency range for assessing CoP variables and the effect of filtering on the relationships between anthropometric variables and CoP are unclear. The aim of this work is to show the relationship between anthropometric variables and different ways of filtering the CoP data. CoP was measured in 221 healthy volunteers using a KISTLER force plate in four different test conditions, both mono and bipedal. The results show no significant changes in the existing correlations of the anthropometric variable values over different filter frequencies between 10 Hz and 13 Hz. Therefore, the findings with regard to anthropometric influences on CoP, with a reasonable but less than ideal filtering of the data, can be applied to other study settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 3070 KiB  
Article
Inertial-Sensor-Based Monitoring of Sample Entropy and Peak Frequency Changes in Treadmill Walking during Recovery after Total Knee Arthroplasty
by Werner A. F. van de Ven, Jurjen Bosga, Wim Hullegie, Wiebe C. Verra and Ruud G. J. Meulenbroek
Sensors 2023, 23(10), 4968; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s23104968 - 22 May 2023
Viewed by 1313
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether sample entropy (SEn) and peak frequency values observed in treadmill walking could provide physical therapists valuable insights into gait rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It was recognized that identifying movement strategies that during rehabilitation are initially [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate whether sample entropy (SEn) and peak frequency values observed in treadmill walking could provide physical therapists valuable insights into gait rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). It was recognized that identifying movement strategies that during rehabilitation are initially adaptive but later start to hamper full recovery is critical to meet the clinical goals and minimize the risk of contralateral TKA. Eleven TKA patients were asked to perform clinical walking tests and a treadmill walking task at four different points in time (pre-TKA, 3, 6, and 12 months post-TKA). Eleven healthy peers served as the reference group. The movements of the legs were digitized with inertial sensors and SEn and peak frequency of the recorded rotational velocity–time functions were analyzed in the sagittal plane. SEn displayed a systematic increase during recovery in TKA patients (p < 0.001). Furthermore, lower peak frequency (p = 0.01) and sample entropy (p = 0.028) were found during recovery for the TKA leg. Movement strategies that initially are adaptive, and later hamper recovery, tend to diminish after 12 months post-TKA. It is concluded that inertial-sensor-based SEn and peak frequency analyses of treadmill walking enrich the assessment of movement rehabilitation after TKA. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 1511 KiB  
Article
Left and Right Cortical Activity Arising from Preferred Walking Speed in Older Adults
by Julia Greenfield, Véronique Delcroix, Wafae Ettaki, Romain Derollepot, Laurence Paire-Ficout and Maud Ranchet
Sensors 2023, 23(8), 3986; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s23083986 - 14 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1284
Abstract
Cortical activity and walking speed are known to decline with age and can lead to an increased risk of falls in the elderly. Despite age being a known contributor to this decline, individuals age at different rates. This study aimed to analyse left [...] Read more.
Cortical activity and walking speed are known to decline with age and can lead to an increased risk of falls in the elderly. Despite age being a known contributor to this decline, individuals age at different rates. This study aimed to analyse left and right cortical activity changes in elderly adults regarding their walking speed. Cortical activation and gait data were obtained from 50 healthy older individuals. Participants were then grouped into a cluster based on their preferred walking speed (slow or fast). Analyses on the differences of cortical activation and gait parameters between groups were carried out. Within-subject analyses on left and right–hemispheric activation were also performed. Results showed that individuals with a slower preferred walking speed required a higher increase in cortical activity. Individuals in the fast cluster presented greater changes in cortical activation in the right hemisphere. This work demonstrates that categorizing older adults by age is not necessarily the most relevant method, and that cortical activity can be a good indicator of performance with respect to walking speed (linked to fall risk and frailty in the elderly). Future work may wish to explore how physical activity training influences cortical activation over time in the elderly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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14 pages, 2029 KiB  
Article
Locomotor Strategy to Perform 6-Minute Walk Test in People with Multiple Sclerosis: A Prospective Observational Study
by Nawale Hadouiri, Elisabeth Monnet, Arnaud Gouelle, Yoshimasa Sagawa, Jr. and Pierre Decavel
Sensors 2023, 23(7), 3407; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s23073407 - 24 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1549
Abstract
Two-thirds of people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) have walking disabilities. Considering the literature, prolonged tests, such as the 6 min walk test, better reflect their everyday life walking capacities and endurance. However, in most studies, only the distance traveled during the 6MWT was [...] Read more.
Two-thirds of people with Multiple Sclerosis (PwMS) have walking disabilities. Considering the literature, prolonged tests, such as the 6 min walk test, better reflect their everyday life walking capacities and endurance. However, in most studies, only the distance traveled during the 6MWT was measured. This study aims to analyze spatio-temporal (ST) walking patterns of PwMS and healthy people in the 6MWT. Participants performed a 6MWT with measures of five ST variables during three 1 min intervals (initial: 0′–1′, middle: 2′30″–3′30″, end: 5′–6′) of the 6MWT, using the GAITRite system. Forty-five PwMS and 24 healthy people were included. We observed in PwMS significant changes between initial and final intervals for all ST parameters, whereas healthy people had a rebound pattern but the changes between intervals were rather negligible. Moreover, ST variables’ changes were superior to the standard measurement error only for PwMS between initial and final intervals for all ST parameters. This result suggests that the modification in PwMS’ walking pattern is effectively due to their walking ability and not to a measurement, and suggests that PwMS could not manage their walking efficiently compared to healthy people, who could maintain their rhythm throughout the 6MWT. Further studies are needed to detect these patterns changes in the early evolution of the disease, identify clinical determinants involved in PwMS’ walking pattern, and investigate whether interventions can positively impact this pattern. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 1133 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Sit-to-Stand Movement in Older Adults with Locomotive Syndrome Using the Nintendo Wii Balance Board
by Go Yamako, Niroshan G. Punchihewa, Hideki Arakawa, Takuya Tajima and Etsuo Chosa
Sensors 2023, 23(7), 3368; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s23073368 - 23 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1791
Abstract
Standing up from a chair is a mechanically demanding daily motion, and its biomechanics represent motor performance. In older adults with locomotive syndrome (LS), sit-to-stand (STS) movement with adequate postural control is essential to prevent falls. This study evaluated the characteristics of dynamic [...] Read more.
Standing up from a chair is a mechanically demanding daily motion, and its biomechanics represent motor performance. In older adults with locomotive syndrome (LS), sit-to-stand (STS) movement with adequate postural control is essential to prevent falls. This study evaluated the characteristics of dynamic balance during STS movement on older adults with LS. A total of 116 participants aged ≥65 years were divided into Non-LS, LS stage 1, and LS stage 2 groups using the LS risk test. The participants were instructed to stand on the Nintendo Wii Balance Board as quickly as possible, and the STS movement was quantified using the vertical ground reaction force (VGRF) and center of pressure (CoP). The STS score, which represented dynamic balance, was significantly different among the groups (p < 0.001). The rate of VGRF development was significantly lower in the LS stages 1 and 2 than in the Non-LS group (p < 0.001). On the other hand, the total distance of the CoP path did not differ among the groups (p = 0.211). These findings indicated a reduction of postural control in older adults with LS. The STS score emphasized the importance of balance training to prevent falls in older adults with LS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 2895 KiB  
Article
Temporal Pattern Attention for Multivariate Time Series of Tennis Strokes Classification
by Maria Skublewska-Paszkowska and Pawel Powroznik
Sensors 2023, 23(5), 2422; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s23052422 - 22 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1576
Abstract
Human Action Recognition is a challenging task used in many applications. It interacts with many aspects of Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Image Processing in order to understand human behaviours as well as identify them. It makes a significant contribution to [...] Read more.
Human Action Recognition is a challenging task used in many applications. It interacts with many aspects of Computer Vision, Machine Learning, Deep Learning and Image Processing in order to understand human behaviours as well as identify them. It makes a significant contribution to sport analysis, by indicating players’ performance level and training evaluation. The main purpose of this study is to investigate how the content of three-dimensional data influences on classification accuracy of four basic tennis strokes: forehand, backhand, volley forehand, and volley backhand. An entire player’s silhouette and its combination with a tennis racket were taken into consideration as input to the classifier. Three-dimensional data were recorded using the motion capture system (Vicon Oxford, UK). The Plug-in Gait model consisting of 39 retro-reflective markers was used for the player’s body acquisition. A seven-marker model was created for tennis racket capturing. The racket is represented in the form of a rigid body; therefore, all points associated with it changed their coordinates simultaneously. The Attention Temporal Graph Convolutional Network was applied for these sophisticated data. The highest accuracy, up to 93%, was achieved for the data of the whole player’s silhouette together with a tennis racket. The obtained results indicated that for dynamic movements, such as tennis strokes, it is necessary to analyze the position of the whole body of the player as well as the racket position. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 1484 KiB  
Article
Validation of 3D Knee Kinematics during Gait on Treadmill with an Instrumented Knee Brace
by Nicolas Reneaud, Raphaël Zory, Olivier Guérin, Luc Thomas, Serge S. Colson, Pauline Gerus and Frédéric Chorin
Sensors 2023, 23(4), 1812; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s23041812 - 06 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1351
Abstract
To test a novel instrumented knee brace intended for use as a rehabilitation system, based on inertial measurement units (IMU) to monitor home-based exercises, the device was compared to the gold standard of motion analysis. The purpose was to validate a new calibration [...] Read more.
To test a novel instrumented knee brace intended for use as a rehabilitation system, based on inertial measurement units (IMU) to monitor home-based exercises, the device was compared to the gold standard of motion analysis. The purpose was to validate a new calibration method through functional tasks and assessed the value of adding magnetometers for motion analysis. Thirteen healthy young adults performed a 60-second gait test at a comfortable walking speed on a treadmill. Knee kinematics were captured simultaneously, using the instrumented knee brace and an optoelectronic camera system (OCS). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) showed excellent reliability for the three axes of rotation with and without magnetometers, with values ranging between 0.900 and 0.972. Pearson’s r coefficient showed good to excellent correlation for the three axes, with the root mean square error (RMSE) under 3° with the IMUs and slightly higher with the magnetometers. The instrumented knee brace obtained certain clinical parameters, as did the OCS. The instrumented knee brace seems to be a valid tool to assess ambulatory knee kinematics, with an RMSE of <3°, which is sufficient for clinical interpretations. Indeed, this portable system can obtain certain clinical parameters just as well as the gold standard of motion analysis. However, the addition of magnetometers showed no significant advantage in terms of enhancing accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 3646 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Lower-Limb Kinematics during Timed Up and Go (TUG) Test in Subjects with Locomotive Syndrome (LS) Using Wearable Gait Sensors (H-Gait System)
by Yoshiaki Kataoka, Yuki Saito, Ryo Takeda, Tomoya Ishida, Shigeru Tadano, Teppei Suzuki, Kentaro Nakamura, Akimi Nakata, Satoshi Osuka, Satoshi Yamada, Mina Samukawa and Harukazu Tohyama
Sensors 2023, 23(2), 687; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s23020687 - 06 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1856
Abstract
Few studies have dealt with lower-limb kinematics during the timed up and go (TUG) test in subjects with locomotive syndrome (LS). This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of lower-limb kinematics during the TUG test in subjects with LS using the wearable sensor-based [...] Read more.
Few studies have dealt with lower-limb kinematics during the timed up and go (TUG) test in subjects with locomotive syndrome (LS). This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of lower-limb kinematics during the TUG test in subjects with LS using the wearable sensor-based H-Gait system. A total of 140 participants were divided into the non-LS (n = 28), the LS-stage 1 (n = 78), and LS-stage 2 (n = 34) groups based on the LS risk test. Compared with the non-LS group, the LS-stage 1 and LS-stage 2 groups showed significantly smaller angular velocity of hip and knee extension during the sit-to-stand phase. The LS-stage 2 group showed significantly smaller peak angles of hip extension and flexion during the walking-out phase compared to the non-LS group. These findings indicate that the evaluation of the lower-limb kinematics during the TUG test using the H-Gait system is highly sensitive to detect LS, compared with the evaluation of the lower-limb kinematics when simply walking. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 2905 KiB  
Article
Physiotherapy Exercise Classification with Single-Camera Pose Detection and Machine Learning
by Colin Arrowsmith, David Burns, Thomas Mak, Michael Hardisty and Cari Whyne
Sensors 2023, 23(1), 363; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s23010363 - 29 Dec 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2988
Abstract
Access to healthcare, including physiotherapy, is increasingly occurring through virtual formats. At-home adherence to physical therapy programs is often poor and few tools exist to objectively measure participation. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the potential for performing automatic, [...] Read more.
Access to healthcare, including physiotherapy, is increasingly occurring through virtual formats. At-home adherence to physical therapy programs is often poor and few tools exist to objectively measure participation. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the potential for performing automatic, unsupervised video-based monitoring of at-home low-back and shoulder physiotherapy exercises using a mobile phone camera. Joint locations were extracted from the videos of healthy subjects performing low-back and shoulder physiotherapy exercises using an open source pose detection framework. A convolutional neural network was trained to classify physiotherapy exercises based on the segments of keypoint time series data. The model’s performance as a function of input keypoint combinations was studied in addition to its robustness to variation in the camera angle. The CNN model achieved optimal performance using a total of 12 pose estimation landmarks from the upper and lower body (low-back exercise classification: 0.995 ± 0.009; shoulder exercise classification: 0.963 ± 0.020). Training the CNN on a variety of angles was found to be effective in making the model robust to variations in video filming angle. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a smartphone camera and a supervised machine learning model to effectively classify at-home physiotherapy participation and could provide a low-cost, scalable method for tracking adherence to physical therapy exercise programs in a variety of settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 2126 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Dynamic Spinal Morphology and Core Muscle Activation in Cyclists—A Comparison between Standing Posture and on the Bicycle
by José M. Muyor, José A. Antequera-Vique, José M. Oliva-Lozano and Francisco M. Arrabal-Campos
Sensors 2022, 22(23), 9346; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s22239346 - 01 Dec 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2866
Abstract
(1) Background: Cycling is characterized by a sustained sitting posture on the bicycle, where physiologic spinal curvatures are modified from standing to cycling. Therefore, the main objective was to evaluate and compare the morphology of the spine and the core muscle activity in [...] Read more.
(1) Background: Cycling is characterized by a sustained sitting posture on the bicycle, where physiologic spinal curvatures are modified from standing to cycling. Therefore, the main objective was to evaluate and compare the morphology of the spine and the core muscle activity in standing posture and cycling at low intensity. (2) Methods: Twelve competitive cyclists participated in the study. Spinal morphology was evaluated using an infrared-camera system. Muscle activation was recorded using a surface electromyography device. (3) Conclusions: The lumbar spine changes its morphology from lordosis in standing to kyphosis (lumbar flexion) when pedaling on the bicycle. The sacral tilt significantly increases its anterior tilt when cycling compared to when standing. The spinal morphology and sacral tilt are dynamic depending on the pedal’s position during the pedal stroke quadrants. The infraspinatus, latissimus dorsi, external oblique, and pectoralis major showed significantly higher activation pedaling than when standing, although with very low values. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 6233 KiB  
Article
On-Field Biomechanical Assessment of High and Low Dive in Competitive 16-Year-Old Goalkeepers through Wearable Sensors and Principal Component Analysis
by Stefano Di Paolo, Francesco Santillozzi, Raffaele Zinno, Giuseppe Barone and Laura Bragonzoni
Sensors 2022, 22(19), 7519; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/s22197519 - 04 Oct 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2118
Abstract
Diving saves are the main duty of football goalkeepers. Few biomechanical investigations of dive techniques have been conducted, none in a sport-specific environment. The present study investigated the characteristics of goalkeepers’ dive in preferred (PS) and non-preferred (nPS) side through an innovative wearables-plus-principal-component [...] Read more.
Diving saves are the main duty of football goalkeepers. Few biomechanical investigations of dive techniques have been conducted, none in a sport-specific environment. The present study investigated the characteristics of goalkeepers’ dive in preferred (PS) and non-preferred (nPS) side through an innovative wearables-plus-principal-component analysis (PCA) approach. Nineteen competitive academy goalkeepers (16.5 ± 3.0 years) performed a series of high and low dives on their PS and nPS. Dives were performed in a regular football goal on the pitch. Full-body kinematics were collected through 17 wearable inertial sensors (MTw Awinda, Xsens). PCA was conducted to reduce data dimensionality (input matrix 310,878 datapoints). PCA scores were extracted for each kinematic variable and compared between PS and nPS if their explained variability was >5%. In high dive, participants exhibited greater hip internal rotation and less trunk lateral tilt (p < 0.047, ES > 0.39) in PS than nPS. In low dives, players exhibited greater ipsilateral hip abduction dominance and lower trunk rotation (p < 0.037, ES > 0.40) in PS than nPS. When diving on their nPS, goalkeepers adopted sub-optimal patterns with less trunk coordination and limited explosiveness. An ecological testing through wearables and PCA might help coaches to inspect relevant diving characteristics and improve training effectiveness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biomechanical Analysis of Motion and Postural Control: Sensors Methods and Data Analytics—2nd Edition)
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