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UNLABELLED: This study aims to determine an optimum estimate for the gravitational vector and vertical acceleration profiles using a body-worn tri-axial accelerometer during falls and normal activities of daily living (ADL), validated using a camera based motion analysis system. Five young healthy subjects performed a number of simulated falls and normal ADL while trunk kinematics were measured by both an optical motion analysis system and a tri-axial accelerometer. Through low-pass filtering of the trunk tri-axial accelerometer signal between 1 Hz and 2.7 Hz using a 1(st) order or higher, Butterworth IIR filter, accurate gravity vector profile can be obtained using the method described here. RESULTS: A high mean correlation (≥ 0.83: Coefficient of Multiple Correlations) and low mean percentage error (≤ 2.06 m/s(2)) were found between the vertical acceleration profile generated from the tri-axial accelerometer based sensor to those from the optical motion capture system. This proposed system enables optimum gravity vector and vertical acceleration profiles to be measured from the trunk during falls and normal ADL.

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Gait impairment is associated with increased falls risk. The gait of 321 community dwelling elderly adults was assessed using the TRIL Gait Analysis Platform (GAP), which was specially designed for ease of use in a research clinic setting by non-experts. The GAP featured body-worn kinematic sensors, a pressure sensitive electronic walkway, and two orthogonally mounted web cameras, and was developed using open platform tools. This flexible platform was applied to objectively measure gait parameters in different gait assessments. The results from the 6 meter walk assessment are presented here. In this assessment, participants were categorized by clinical falls history as 'fallers' or 'non-fallers'. Temporal and spatial gait parameters were examined. Significant differences in spatial parameters were observed when fallers and non-fallers were compared. Temporal parameters were found to differ, though not significantly.

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Body-worn kinematic sensors have been widely proposed as the optimal solution for portable, low cost, ambulatory monitoring of gait. This study aims to evaluate an adaptive gyroscope-based algorithm for automated temporal gait analysis using body-worn wireless gyroscopes. Gyroscope data from nine healthy adult subjects performing four walks at four different speeds were then compared against data acquired simultaneously using two force plates and an optical motion capture system. Data from a poliomyelitis patient, exhibiting pathological gait walking with and without the aid of a crutch, were also compared to the force plate. Results show that the mean true error between the adaptive gyroscope algorithm and force plate was -4.5 ± 14.4 ms and 43.4 ± 6.0 ms for IC and TC points, respectively, in healthy subjects. Similarly, the mean true error when data from the polio patient were compared against the force plate was -75.61 ± 27.53 ms and 99.20 ± 46.00 ms for IC and TC points, respectively. A comparison of the present algorithm against temporal gait parameters derived from an optical motion analysis system showed good agreement for nine healthy subjects at four speeds. These results show that the algorithm reported here could constitute the basis of a robust, portable, low-cost system for ambulatory monitoring of gait.

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Wireless sensor networks have become increasingly common in everyday applications due to decreasing technology costs and improved product performance, robustness and extensibility. Wearable physiological monitoring systems have been utilized in a variety of studies, particularly those investigating ECG or EMG during human movement or sleep monitoring. These systems require extensive validation to ensure accurate and repeatable functionality. Here we validate the physiological signals (EMG, ECG and GSR) of the SHIMMER (Sensing Health with Intelligence, Modularity, Mobility and Experimental Reusability) against known commercial systems. Signals recorded by the SHIMMER EMG, ECG and GSR daughter-boards were found to compare well to those obtained by commercial systems.

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Body-worn kinematic sensors have been widely proposed for use in portable, low cost, ambulatory monitoring of gait. Such sensor based systems could avoid the need for high-cost laboratory-based methods for measurement of gait. We aimed to evaluate an adaptive gyroscope-based algorithm for automated temporal gait analysis using body-worn wireless gyroscopes. Temporal gait parameters were calculated from initial contact (IC) and terminal contact (TC) points derived from gyroscopes, contained in wireless sensors on the left and right shanks, using a newly developed adaptive algorithm. Gyroscope data from nine healthy adult subjects performing four walks at three different speeds were then compared against data acquired simultaneously using two force-plates. Results show that the mean true error between the adaptive gyroscope algorithm and force-plate was -5.5 ± 7.3 ms and 40.6 ± 19.2 ms for IC and TC points respectively; the latter representing a consistent, systematic error of this magnitude that may be intrinsic to shank-mounted gyroscopes. These results suggest that the algorithm reported here could form the basis of a robust, portable, low-cost system for ambulatory monitoring of gait.

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Development of a flexible wireless sensor platform for measurement of biomechanical and physiological variables related to functional movement would be a vital step towards effective ambulatory monitoring and early detection of risk factors in the ageing population. The small form factor, wirelessly enabled SHIMMER platform has been developed towards this end. This study is focused assessing the utility of the SHIMMER for use in ambulatory human gait analysis. Temporal gait parameters derived from a tri-axial gyroscope contained in the SHIMMER are compared against those acquired simultaneously using the CODA motion analysis system. Results from a healthy adult male subject show excellent agreement (ICC(2, k) > 0.85) in stride, swing and stance time for 10 walking trials and 4 run trials. The mean differences using the Bland and Altman method for stance, stride and swing times were 0.0087, 0.0044 and -0.0061 seconds respectively. These results suggest that the SHIMMER is a versatile cost effective tool for use in temporal gait analysis.

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On long distance journeys passengers at high risk from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) are recommended to exercise on a regular basis to contract the calf muscle pump and encourage venous return. If a passenger fails to complete an exercise program that induces active contraction of the calf muscle pump they will remain at increased risk of DVT. This paper presents a novel inertial and magnetic sensor-based technique for monitoring calf muscle pump activity. The technique could be implemented into a system for monitoring the level of calf muscle pump activity in persons with limited mobility. Such a system could be used to provide a reminder to the user that there is a need to exercise should they have forgotten to exercise, failed to exercise sufficiently or exercised incorrectly. The proposed technique was evaluated by comparison with calf muscle pump activity measured using an electromyography (EMG) sensor. Results show that the technique can be used to monitor calf muscle pump activity over a wide range of leg exercises.

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Falls in the elderly population are a major problem for today's society. The immediate automatic detection of such events would help reduce the associated consequences of falls. This paper describes the development of an accurate, accelerometer-based fall detection system to distinguish between Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and falls. It has previously been shown that falls can be distinguished from normal ADL through vertical velocity thresholding using an optical motion capture system. In this study however accurate vertical velocity profiles of the trunk were generated by simple signal processing of the signals from a tri-axial accelerometer (TA). By recording simulated falls onto crash mats and ADL performed by 5 young healthy subjects, using both a single chest mounted TA and using an optical motion capture system, the accuracy of the vertical velocity profiles was assessed. Data analysis was performed using MATLAB to determine the peak velocities recorded and RMS error during four different fall and six ADL types. Results show high correlations and low percentage errors between the vertical velocity profiles generated by the TA to those recorded using the optical motion capture system. In addition, through thresholding of the vertical velocity profiles generated using the TA at -1.3m/s, falls can be distinguished from normal ADL with 100% sensitivity and specificity.

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This paper describes a technique for distinguishing falls from activities of daily living (ADL) through vertical velocity thresholding (VVT). To verify that VVT can be used to distinguish falls from ADL and to detect falls prior to impact, simulated fall and ADL testing was carried out on five young healthy subjects. Results show that the VVT method can distinguish falls from ADL with 100% accuracy and with an average lead-time of 323ms prior to trunk impact and 140ms prior to knee impact.

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This paper describes the design and evaluation of a miniature kinematic sensor based three dimensional (3D) joint angle measurement technique. The technique uses a combination of rate gyroscope, accelerometer and magnetometer sensor signals. The technique enables 3D inter-segment joint angle measurement and could be of benefit in a variety of applications which require monitoring of joint angles. The technique is not dependent on a fixed reference coordinate system and thus may be suitable for use in a dynamic system such as a moving vehicle. The technique was evaluated by applying it to joint angle measurement of the ankle joint. Experimental results show that accurate measurement of ankle joint angles is achieved by the technique during a variety of lower leg exercises including walking.

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Long distance travel is associated with increased risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). There is an increased risk of travel related DVT in passengers with a predisposition to thrombosis. Assisting blood circulation in the lower limb will reduce the risk of DVT. Leg exercises are recommended as a DVT preventative measure while flying but this fails to account for a passenger who is distracted by in flight entertainment or who falls asleep for an extended period. A method for monitoring calf muscle pump activity using accelerometers has been developed and evaluated. The proposed technique could be used to alert the traveller that there is a need to exercise their calf muscle, thus reducing the risk of DVT.

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