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Mobile Functional Reach Test in People Who Suffer Stroke: A Pilot Study
Jose Antonio Merchán-Baeza1, Manuel González-Sánchez1, Antonio Cuesta-Vargas1,2
1Departamento de Fisioterapia, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Andalucia Tech, Cátedra de Fisioterapia y Discapacidad, Instituto de Biomedicina de Málaga (IBIMA), Grupo de Clinimetria (FE-14), Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain.
Mobile sensors in smartphones reliably measure kinematic variables during the Functional Reach Test (FRT) for stroke survivors. This study confirms their utility for assessing postural instability in stroke rehabilitation.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Technology
- Clinical Biomechanics
Background:
- Postural instability is a common complication following a stroke.
- The Functional Reach Test (FRT) is a validated tool for assessing semistatic balance.
- Accurate parameterization of the FRT is valuable for clinical practice and research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the reliability of using mobile phone inertial sensors for FRT parameterization in stroke patients.
- To evaluate mobile sensors as instruments for kinematic analysis of the FRT.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 7 stroke survivors over 65 years old.
- Subjects performed the FRT while carrying two mobile phones (lumbar and trunk).
- Kinematic variables (distance, displacement, time, speed, acceleration) were recorded and analyzed for reliability.
Main Results:
- Intrasubject reliability for mobile sensors exceeded 0.831; intersubject reliability ranged from 0.835 to 0.882.
- Overall FRT reliability was high: 0.989 (intrasubject) and 0.978 (intersubject).
- Results indicate strong consistency in measurements from mobile sensors.
Conclusions:
- Mobile phone sensors demonstrate reliability for parameterizing the Functional Reach Test in stroke survivors.
- This technology offers a practical and accessible method for kinematic assessment in stroke rehabilitation.
- Smartphone-based kinematic analysis can support clinical decision-making and research in post-stroke care.
