Observational balance tests (e.g., Berg Balance Scale) are used to evaluate fall-risk. However, they tend to be subjective, and their reliability and sensitivity can be limited. The use of in-lab equipment for objective balance evaluation has not been common in clinical practice, due to the requirement of an equipped lab space. While inertial measurement units (IMUs) enable objective out-of-lab balance assessment, their accuracy has not been validated. This study aims to investigate the accuracy of IMUs against in-lab equipment for characterizing standing balance. Ten non-disabled individuals participated in a two-minute standing test on a force-plate. Four approaches were used for estimating inter-segmental moments and center of pressure (COP) position in a four-segment model: (1) camera-based bottom-up approach; (2) camera-based top-down approach; (3) IMU-based (accelerometer) top-down approach; and (4) IMU-based (accelerometer and gyroscope) top-down approach. Approaches 2 to 4 resulted in high accuracy compared to the reference, Approach 1. The root-mean-square errors in estimating the segments' orientation, ground reaction forces, COP position, and joint moments were smaller than 0.3°, 0.2 N/kg, 1.5 mm, and 0.016N·m/kg, respectively. Since no significant differences were observed between the accuracy of Approaches 3 and 4, only accelerometer recordings are needed and could be recommended for monitoring standing balance.

The population of older adults is rapidly growing. In-home monitoring systems have been used to support aging-in-place. Ambient sensors or wearable localizers can be used but may be too low resolution, while camera systems are invasive to privacy. Ultra-wideband (UWB) localization offers precise positioning by placing anchors throughout the house and wearing a tag that is tracked by the anchors. In this study, the accuracy of UWB for indoor tracking was evaluated in a motion capture gait lab and in a mock condo in the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. First, the configuration of UWB was tested, changing factors related to sampling time, anchor placement and line-of-sight. Comparing these factors to the configurations recommended by the manufacturer guidelines, accuracies remained within 14 cm. We then performed static and dynamic accuracy tests, with dynamic testing comprised of rolling and walking motions. In the motion capture lab, we found localization accuracies of 7.0 ± 11.1 cm while in the mock condo, we found accuracies of 27.3 ± 12.9 cm. Dynamic testing with rolling motions had an average of 19.1 ± 1.6 cm while walking was 20.5 ± 4.2 cm. The mean accuracy of UWB is within the 30 cm target for indoor localization.

Background/Objectives: Bone-anchored prostheses provide an alternative to socket prostheses, directly connecting the prosthesis to the residual limb via osseointegration. However, limited evidence exists on how spatiotemporal gait parameters and gait symmetry change over time following osseointegration in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation. This study aimed to examine changes in spatiotemporal and gait symmetry parameters before osseointegration and at 6 and 12 months post-surgery. Methods: Common spatiotemporal parameters were collected from six individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation at baseline (with socket prosthesis) and at 6 and 12 months post-osseointegration using a motion analysis system. Group-level differences were assessed using repeated measures ANOVA. Gait symmetry was evaluated using selected spatiotemporal parameters. Results: Following osseointegration, individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation experienced significant spatiotemporal changes over time. At the group level, walking velocity and stride length decreased at 6 months, with stride length increasing at 12 months. Step width and prosthetic-side step length increased at 12 months relative to 6 months, while intact-side step length decreased. Prosthetic-side toe-off timing was shorter at 12 months. Gait symmetry responses varied individually: some with poor baseline symmetry improved, while those with better baseline symmetry became more asymmetric, indicating heterogeneous outcomes. Conclusions: This study highlights longitudinal changes in gait biomechanics following osseointegration in individuals with unilateral transfemoral amputation. Gait adaptations were highly variable across individuals and time points. Future research should involve larger, more homogeneous samples and incorporate kinetic, muscle activity, and functional outcome measures to better understand the impact of bone-anchored prostheses on gait and mobility.