Cervical Range of Motion Assessment through Inertial Technology: A Validity and Reliability Study

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Rehabilitation Engineering
• Medical Instrumentation

Background:

• Inertial technology offers convenient and adaptable solutions for motor task analysis.
• Accurate measurement of cervical spine range of motion (CROM) is crucial for diagnosing and managing various conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate inertial measurements of CROM against an optoelectronic system in healthy individuals.
• To identify the optimal placement of inertial sensors (C2, forehead, EOP) for reliable CROM measurement.

Main Methods:

• Twenty healthy subjects performed head movements (flexion-extension, lateral bending, axial rotation).
• CROM and mean angular velocities were recorded using inertial sensors and an optoelectronic system.
• Sensor reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) for different placements.

Main Results:

• Inertial measurements demonstrated good to excellent reliability (ICC > 0.75).
• Excellent reliability (ICC > 0.9) was observed for flexion and right lateral bending angles.
• The external occipital protuberance (EOP) placement yielded the highest reliability (ICC > 0.62) across parameters, outperforming forehead (F) and C2 placements.

Conclusions:

• Inertial technology provides a reliable method for evaluating CROM.
• Optimal sensor placement at the EOP enhances measurement accuracy and consistency for cervical spine assessments.