Classification of windswept posture in daily life using tri-axial accelerometers

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Science
• Pediatric Orthopedics

Background:

• Children with severe cerebral palsy (CP) often exhibit an asymmetric windswept posture.
• The duration and frequency of windswept posture in daily life for children with CP remain largely unquantified.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel triple-accelerometer system for detecting windswept posture.
• To assess the system's accuracy in classifying various body postures and movements in a free-living environment.

Main Methods:

• A system with accelerometers placed on the sternum and both thighs was developed.
• Initial validation involved nine healthy adults performing predefined positions and activities.
• Subsequent assessment involved six healthy adults monitored for 24 hours in their homes.

Main Results:

• The system demonstrated high accuracy in classifying body postures and movements.
• Agreement with activity logs was 100% for detected postures, with at least 68% overall time agreement.
• Recumbent positions were detected with at least 96% accuracy.

Conclusions:

• The developed triple-accelerometer system is a reliable and valid tool for assessing windswept hip posture.
• This technology enables objective, long-term monitoring of posture in free-living settings for individuals with CP.