Feasibility of a real-time pattern-based kinematic feedback system for gait retraining in pediatric cerebral palsy
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Peter J. Barrance; Xuan Liu; Naphtaly Ehrenberg; Katherine Bentley; Nuno Oliveira; Sheila Blochlinger; Hannah Shoval; JenFu Cheng
- Source
- Journal of Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies Engineering
- Subject
- musculoskeletal diseases
biofeedback
030506 rehabilitation
medicine.medical_specialty
Computer science
medicine.medical_treatment
knee
Wearable computer
Kinematics
Biofeedback
Cerebral palsy
03 medical and health sciences
Time pattern
0302 clinical medicine
Physical medicine and rehabilitation
real-time feedback
Gait retraining
Inertial measurement unit
medicine
cerebral palsy
musculoskeletal system
Pathological gait
medicine.disease
body regions
Original Article
0305 other medical science
human activities
030217 neurology & neurosurgery
- Language
- ISSN
- 2055-6683
Introduction Visual biofeedback of lower extremity kinematics has the potential to enhance retraining of pathological gait patterns. We describe a system that uses wearable inertial measurement units to provide kinematic feedback on error measures generated during periods of gait in which the knee is predominantly extended (‘extension period’) and flexed (‘flexion period’). Methods We describe the principles of operation of the system, a validation study on the inertial measurement unit derived knee flexion angle on which the system is based, and a feasibility study to assess the ability of a child with cerebral palsy to modify a gait deviation (decreased swing phase knee flexion) in response to the feedback. Results The validation study demonstrated strong convergent validity with an independent measurement of knee flexion angle. The gait pattern observed during training with the system exhibited increased flexion in the flexion period with maintenance of appropriate extension in the extension period. Conclusions Inertial measurement units can provide robust feedback during gait training. A child with cerebral palsy was able to interpret the novel two phase visual feedback and respond with rapid gait adaptation in a single training session. With further development, the system has the potential to support clinical retraining of deviated gait patterns.