Feasibility of a Sensor-Based Technological Platform in Assessing Gait and Sleep of In-Hospital Stroke and Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury (iSCI) Patients

• Main Authors: Maartje M. S. Hendriks, Marije Vos-van der Hulst, Noel L. W. Keijsers
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-05-01
• Series: Sensors
• Subjects: sensor technology; technological platform; feasibility; clinical implementation; stroke; spinal cord injury
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/20/10/2748

Recovery of the walking function is one of the most common rehabilitation goals of neurological patients. Sufficient and adequate sleep is a prerequisite for recovery or training. To objectively monitor patients’ progress, a combination of different sensors measuring continuously over time is needed. A sensor-based technological platform offers possibilities to monitor gait and sleep. Implementation in clinical practice is of utmost relevance and has scarcely been studied. Therefore, this study examined the feasibility of a sensor-based technological platform within the clinical setting. Participants (12 incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI), 13 stroke) were asked to wear inertial measurement units (IMUs) around the ankles during daytime and the bed sensor was placed under their mattress for one week. Feasibility was established based on missing data, error cause, and user experience. Percentage of missing measurement days and nights was 14% and 4%, respectively. Main cause of lost measurement days was related to missing IMU sensor data. Participants were not impeded, did not experience any discomfort, and found the sensors easy to use. The sensor-based technological platform is feasible to use within the clinical rehabilitation setting for continuously monitoring gait and sleep of iSCI and stroke patients.