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An Exploratory Analysis of Postural Control in People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Using a Smartphone IMU Sensor
Trine Rolighed Thomsen1,2, Sophia Pölhöšová1, Asger Ahlmann Bech3,4
1Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, DK-9220 Aalborg, Denmark.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Smartphone accelerometers accurately assess postural control, showing balance deficits in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. This technology offers a simple, accessible tool for balance screening in diabetes care.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Clinical Biomechanics
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Growing need for accessible postural control assessment in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Limited simple methods for tracking balance in adults.
- Investigating smartphone technology for postural control analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- Assess the validity of smartphone-derived postural control analysis.
- Compare smartphone data with traditional center-of-pressure (COP) measures.
- Evaluate effectiveness in healthy adults and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.
Main Methods:
- 36 participants (21 controls, 15 T2DM) performed static postural tests.
- Smartphone attached to the lower back measured trunk acceleration (SP-ACC).
- Concurrent gold-standard center of pressure (COP) data collected; RMS and MV extracted.
Main Results:
- Both SP-ACC and COP metrics showed increased sway with task difficulty (p < 0.001).
- RMS-ACC correlated moderately-to-strongly with RMS-COP (r = 0.55-0.90).
- T2DM group showed significantly impaired postural control compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Smartphone-based IMU assessments align well with COP analysis.
- Detected condition-specific balance deficits in T2DM patients.
- Smartphone IMU metrics are a promising tool for accessible balance screening in diabetes care.
