Will Pitt1, Szu-Hua Chen2, Li-Shan Chou3. 1. Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Baylor University - Keller Army Community Hospital, Division 1 Sports Physical Therapy Fellowship, West Point, New York 10963, USA. 2. Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA. 3. Department of Human Physiology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403, USA; Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA. Electronic address: chou@iastate.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Concussion may result in acutely impaired dynamic balance control that can persist up to two months post injury. Such impairment has been detected using sophisticated whole body center of mass kinematic metrics derived from camera-based motion analysis under a dual-task paradigm. However, wearable sensor kinematics for describing gait imbalance is lacking. METHODS: This study employed a longitudinal design. Gait balance control of acutely concussed and healthy matched control participants was assessed at five post-injury time points (within 72 h of injury, at one week, two weeks, one month, and two months). Tri-axial accelerations and angular velocities were collected with a dual-task gait protocol using an inertial measurement unit placed over the fifth lumbar vertebra. FINDINGS: Eight consistent gait event specific peak accelerations and six peak angular velocities measured by the inertial measurement unit were examined. Peak yaw and roll angular velocities at heel strike and peak roll angular velocities during early single-support, distinguished healthy from concussed participants across the two month post-injury period, while peak vertical acceleration at the end of terminal stance peak medial-lateral acceleration to the right during loading response showed promise. INTERPRETATION: Utilization of peak accelerations and angular velocities collected from a single inertial measurement unit placed over the fifth lumbar vertebra in a divided attention paradigm may offer a clinically feasible method for detecting subtle changes in gait balance control in concussed individuals.
BACKGROUND: Concussion may result in acutely impaired dynamic balance control that can persist up to two months post injury. Such impairment has been detected using sophisticated whole body center of mass kinematic metrics derived from camera-based motion analysis under a dual-task paradigm. However, wearable sensor kinematics for describing gait imbalance is lacking. METHODS: This study employed a longitudinal design. Gait balance control of acutely concussed and healthy matched control participants was assessed at five post-injury time points (within 72 h of injury, at one week, two weeks, one month, and two months). Tri-axial accelerations and angular velocities were collected with a dual-task gait protocol using an inertial measurement unit placed over the fifth lumbar vertebra. FINDINGS: Eight consistent gait event specific peak accelerations and six peak angular velocities measured by the inertial measurement unit were examined. Peak yaw and roll angular velocities at heel strike and peak roll angular velocities during early single-support, distinguished healthy from concussed participants across the two month post-injury period, while peak vertical acceleration at the end of terminal stance peak medial-lateral acceleration to the right during loading response showed promise. INTERPRETATION: Utilization of peak accelerations and angular velocities collected from a single inertial measurement unit placed over the fifth lumbar vertebra in a divided attention paradigm may offer a clinically feasible method for detecting subtle changes in gait balance control in concussed individuals.
Authors: Dylan Powell; Alan Godfrey; Lucy Parrington; Kody R Campbell; Laurie A King; Sam Stuart Journal: J Neuroeng Rehabil Date: 2022-05-26 Impact factor: 5.208
Authors: Anthony Dever; Dylan Powell; Lisa Graham; Rachel Mason; Julia Das; Steven J Marshall; Rodrigo Vitorio; Alan Godfrey; Samuel Stuart Journal: Sensors (Basel) Date: 2022-02-14 Impact factor: 3.576