Validation of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameter using Inertial Measurement Unit for Patient with Non-Specific Low Back Pain

Introduction: 
Gait analysis techniques were widely used in rehabilitation. Gait abnormality observed in patients with severe musculoskeletal disorder such as Low Back Pain (LBP). Currently Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) showed high consistency instrument for analysing spatiotemporal gait parameter in healthy person. Purpose of this study  is to determine validity and reliability of spatiotemporal gait parameter using the IMU sensor among the non-specific LBP patient. 

Methodology: 
This study involved in two groups, LBP group (n = 28; male = 15; female = 13; 41.0±6.9 years old) diagnosed with chronic non-specific LBP recruited from Physiotherapy Department, Hospital Sultanah Aminah Johor Bahru and healthy adults (n = 28; male = 11; female = 17; 40.9 ±7.4 years old) as control group. Spatiotemporal parameters interested: left and right velocity, cadence and stride/step time recorded by Vicon system and IMU sensors synchronously. 

Results: 
Higher significant correlation with p ≤ 0.01 for cadence, velocity, stride and step time for LBP group. The IMU also had shown excellent agreement in between 1st  and 2nd  trial for LBP group in velocity of shank, foot and lumbar placement of sensor with confidence interval ICC ≥ 0.90. 

Conclusion: 
The IMU system performs to be valid and reliable to determine spatiotemporal gait parameters in non-specific LBP patients. IMU provides a possible solution to measure spatiotemporal gait in a clinical setting without requiring specific working area and professional technician.  

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