Correlation Analysis of Manual and Automatic FGA Assessment Using Pressure wellness mat Metrics

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Clinical Assessment
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• The Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) is a standard clinical tool for evaluating dynamic balance and gait.
• Mobility disorders often require precise assessment of balance and gait for effective rehabilitation.
• Current FGA scoring relies on subjective clinical observation, introducing potential variability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between manual FGA scores and automated FGA scores derived from pressure mat data.
• To determine the feasibility of using pressure mat technology for objective FGA assessment.
• To explore the potential of automated FGA scoring in enhancing clinical practice and patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Six participants completed standardized FGA tasks, including varied walking speeds, head turns, and obstacle navigation.
• Three expert clinicians provided independent manual FGA scores.
• Concurrent automated FGA metrics were generated using pressure data from a pressure mat and a dedicated algorithm.

Main Results:

• A strong positive correlation (ICC = 0.783) was observed between manual and automated FGA scores.
• The pressure mat system demonstrated feasibility for automatically calculating FGA scores.
• Automated assessment showed potential for objective and consistent FGA scoring.

Conclusions:

• Automated FGA assessment using a pressure mat is a feasible and reliable method.
• This technology can reduce the subjectivity and variability inherent in manual FGA scoring.
• Enhanced precision in balance and gait analysis can improve rehabilitation monitoring and patient outcomes.