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Exploring the Role of Accelerometers in the Measurement of Real World Upper-Limb Use After Stroke

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2015

Kathryn S. Hayward ,
Janice J. Eng ,
Lara A. Boyd ,
Bimal Lakhani ,
Julie Bernhardt  and
Catherine E. Lang
Kathryn S. Hayward
Affiliation:
Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Janice J. Eng
Affiliation:
Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Rehabilitation Research Program, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Lara A. Boyd
Affiliation:
Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Bimal Lakhani
Affiliation:
Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Julie Bernhardt
Affiliation:
Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia College of Science Health and Engineering, Latrobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Catherine E. Lang*
Affiliation:
Program in Physical Therapy, Program in Occupational Therapy, Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Catherine E. Lang, PhD, Program in Physical Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, 4444 Forest Park, Campus Box 8502, St Louis, MO 63108, USA. E-mail: langc@wustl.edu. Phone: +1 (314) 286-1945.
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Abstract

The ultimate goal of upper-limb rehabilitation after stroke is to promote real-world use, that is, use of the paretic upper-limb in everyday activities outside the clinic or laboratory. Although real-world use can be collected through self-report questionnaires, an objective indicator is preferred. Accelerometers are a promising tool. The current paper aims to explore the feasibility of accelerometers to measure upper-limb use after stroke and discuss the translation of this measurement tool into clinical practice. Accelerometers are non-invasive, wearable sensors that measure movement in arbitrary units called activity counts. Research to date indicates that activity counts are a reliable and valid index of upper-limb use. While most accelerometers are unable to distinguish between the type and quality of movements performed, recent advancements have used accelerometry data to produce clinically meaningful information for clinicians, patients, family and care givers. Despite this, widespread uptake in research and clinical environments remains limited. If uptake was enhanced, we could build a deeper understanding of how people with stroke use their arm in real-world environments. In order to facilitate greater uptake, however, there is a need for greater consistency in protocol development, accelerometer application and data interpretation.

Keywords

strokeparesisaccelerometrywearable sensorsarmrecovery
Type
Articles
Information
Brain Impairment , Volume 17 , Issue 1: Physical Activity in Neurological Populations , March 2016 , pp. 16 - 33
Copyright
Copyright © Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment 2015 

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