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A Scoping Review on Minimum Foot Clearance Measurement: Sensing Modalities
Ghazaleh Delfi1, Abdulrahman Al Bochi1, Tilak Dutta1,2
1KITE-Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2A2, Canada.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|October 23, 2021
Summary
Researchers reviewed alternative technologies for measuring minimum foot clearance (MFC), a key factor in fall prevention. Inertial measurement units (IMUs) and optical proximity sensors (OPS) were most common, but standardization is needed for real-world fall risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics and Gait Analysis
- Human Movement Science
- Assistive Technology and Wearable Sensors
Background:
- Falls represent a significant public health concern, with tripping being a primary cause of outdoor falls.
- Minimum foot clearance (MFC) is a critical biomechanical parameter for assessing tripping risk.
- Traditional optical motion capture systems for MFC measurement have limitations in real-world applicability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a scoping review identifying and evaluating alternative measurement modalities for level-ground MFC.
- To assess technologies beyond optical motion capture for real-world fall risk assessment.
- To inform future research directions for standardized MFC measurement.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of four electronic databases for peer-reviewed studies on level-ground MFC.
- Screening of 1571 identified papers by two independent reviewers, including 17 for analysis.
- Extraction of sensor type, analysis methods, system properties, accuracy, and validation from included studies.
Main Results:
- Seventeen studies reported on alternative MFC measurement technologies, including inertial measurement units (IMUs), ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors (IR), optical proximity sensors (OPS), laser ranging sensors, and ultra-wideband sensors.
- IMUs (n=10) and OPS (n=1) were the most frequently investigated alternative modalities.
- Significant lack of standardization in methodology and performance assessment was observed across studies.
Conclusions:
- Inertial measurement units (IMUs) and optical proximity sensors (OPS) show promise as alternatives to optical motion capture for MFC measurement.
- Standardization of measurement protocols and performance evaluation is crucial for comparing different modalities.
- Further research is recommended to develop reliable and validated real-world MFC assessment tools for fall prevention.
