You are here

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Volume 47, Issue 5
  • Quantitative assessment of postural stability using accelerometer and gyroscopic data during balance error scoring system

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Abstracts from the 4th International Conference on Concussion in Sport (Zurich, 2012)
New Investigation or Diagnostic Strategies and Advances in Concussion Management
Quantitative assessment of postural stability using accelerometer and gyroscopic data during balance error scoring system
  1. Jay L Alberts1,2,3,*,
  2. Joshua R Hirsch1,2,3,
  3. Richard Figler4,
  4. Andrew N Russman5,
  5. Robert Gray5,
  6. Susan M Linder1,2,3
  1. 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
  2. 2Center for Neurological Restoration, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
  3. 3Cleveland FES Center, L. Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
  4. 4Sports Health, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
  5. 5Neurologic Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Abstract

    Objective The aim of this study was to validate a portable method of objectively quantifying postural stability using accelerometer and gyroscopic data from the iPad2 during BESS.

    Design Participants completed the six 20 s BESS conditions. BESS errors were recorded by trained evaluators. Linear and angular acceleration were simultaneously collected via the iPad2 accelerometer and gyroscope.

    Setting Academic medical center.

    Participants Fifty healthy participants aged 14–25 with no concussion in previous 6 months.

    Main Outcome Measurements The primary outcome measures were evaluator-reported errors and natural-logarithmic volume of a 3D ellipsoid (iVE) encompassing 95% of postural sway data. The iVE characterises movement along anterior–posterior, medial-lateral, and trunk-rotational movement axes. It was hypothesised that iVE would provide a more sensitive assessment of postural stability than traditional BESS error scoring.

    Results For the two double-leg stance conditions, BESS error scores were nearly identical, as few participants made errors. However, iVE data indicated a significant difference in stability between these conditions, as iVE for double-leg stance on firm surface was 0.3±0.16 s3 while iVE on foam was 3.4±0.16 s3.

    Conclusions The objective data gathered using a consumer electronics device provides a reliable and valid assessment of postural stability and increases the sensitivity of the BESS. Accordingly, it is recommended that all six BESS conditions be completed in order to fulfill the current Zurich recommendation of a comprehensive balance assessment. We are currently using the ‘C3 App’ and BESS in the collection of baseline data in 12 000 high school and college athletes.

    https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2012-092101.40

    Statistics from Altmetric.com

      Request Permissions

      If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.