An Inexpensive and Easy to Use Cervical Range of Motion Measurement Solution Using Inertial Sensors

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Clinical Biomechanics
• Wearable Technology

Background:

• Neck injuries are prevalent, necessitating precise Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) measurement for diagnosis and treatment.
• Existing CROM measurement tools may lack the desired accuracy, portability, or ease of use for clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an inexpensive, compact, and user-friendly wearable inertial sensor solution for measuring CROM.
• To design a system that meets the practical needs of clinicians for effective and efficient patient assessment.

Main Methods:

• Development of a system comprising two wireless MEMS-based inertial devices, software for data recording and report generation, and a standardized measurement protocol.
• Validation of the system against optical tracking devices to assess accuracy and reliability (interrater and test-retest).

Main Results:

• The wearable sensor system demonstrated accurate and reliable CROM measurements, surpassing the precision of conventional instruments.
• High interrater reliability (ICC = 0.93) and test-retest reliability (ICC > 0.90) were achieved.
• The system proved efficient, with a 4-minute setup-to-report time, and received positive user satisfaction from practitioners.

Conclusions:

• The developed wearable inertial sensor system offers an accurate, reliable, and cost-effective solution for CROM assessment in clinical practice.
• The system's design, validated performance, and efficiency fulfill clinical needs, making it suitable for mass production and medical use.