Use of Wearable Sensor Technology in Gait, Balance, and Range of Motion Analysis

TLDR

More than 8.6 million people suffer from neurological disorders that impair gait and balance, yet physical therapists often rely on subjective assessments, and quantitative methods can provide objective evaluation and tracking of patient progress. This paper surveys the state‑of‑the‑art wearable sensor technology for gait, balance, and range‑of‑motion research and serves as a reference for future studies by outlining current solutions and challenges. It introduces a two‑level taxonomy of rehabilitation assessment, detailing evaluation metrics and common algorithms employed in wearable sensor systems.

Abstract

More than 8.6 million people suffer from neurological disorders that affect their gait and balance. Physical therapists provide interventions to improve patient’s functional outcomes, yet balance and gait are often evaluated in a subjective and observational manner. The use of quantitative methods allows for assessment and tracking of patient progress during and after rehabilitation or for early diagnosis of movement disorders. This paper surveys the state-of-the-art in wearable sensor technology in gait, balance, and range of motion research. It serves as a point of reference for future research, describing current solutions and challenges in the field. A two-level taxonomy of rehabilitation assessment is introduced with evaluation metrics and common algorithms utilized in wearable sensor systems.