Can We Accurately Measure Axial Segment Coordination during Turning Using Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs)?

Abstract

Camera-based 3D motion analysis systems are considered to be the gold standard for
movement analysis. However, using such equipment in a clinical setting is prohibitive due to the
expense and time-consuming nature of data collection and analysis. Therefore, Inertial
Measurement Units (IMUs) have been suggested as an alternative to measure movement in clinical
settings. One area which is both important and challenging is the assessment of turning kinematics
in individuals with movement disorders. This study aimed to validate the use of IMUs in the
measurement of turning kinematics in healthy adults compared to a camera-based 3D motion
analysis system. Data were collected from twelve participants using a Vicon motion analysis system
which were compared with data from 4 IMUs placed on the; forehead, middle thorax, and feet in
order to determine accuracy and reliability. The results demonstrated that IMUs sensors produced
reliable kinematic measures and showed excellent reliability (ICCs 0.80–0.98) and no significant
differences were seen in paired t-tests in all parameters when comparing the two systems. This
suggests that IMU sensors provide a viable alternative to camera-based motion capture that could
be used in isolation to gather data from individuals with movement disorders in clinical settings
and real-life situations.