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Ecological validity of a deep learning algorithm to detect gait events from real-life walking bouts in mobility-limiting diseases

Frontiers in Neurology, vol. 14, pp. 1247532

Abstract

Introduction: The clinical assessment of mobility, and walking specifically, is still mainly based on functional tests that lack ecological validity. Thanks to inertial measurement units (IMUs), gait analysis is shifting to unsupervised monitoring in naturalistic and unconstrained settings. However, the extraction of clinically relevant gait parameters from IMU data often depends on heuristics-based algorithms that rely on empirically determined thresholds. These were mainly validated on small cohorts in supervised settings. Methods: Here, a deep learning (DL) algorithm was developed and validated for gait event detection in a heterogeneous population of different mobility-limiting disease cohorts and a cohort of healthy adults. Participants wore pressure insoles and IMUs on both feet for 2.5 h in their habitual environment. The raw accelerometer and gyroscope data from both feet were used as input to a deep convolutional neural network, while reference timings for gait events were based on the combined IMU and pressure insoles data. Results and discussion: The results showed a high-detection performance for initial contacts (ICs) (recall: 98%, precision: 96%) and final contacts (FCs) (recall: 99%, precision: 94%) and a maximum median time error of -0.02 s for ICs and 0.03 s for FCs. Subsequently derived temporal gait parameters were in good agreement with a pressure insoles-based reference with a maximum mean difference of 0.07, -0.07, and <0.01 s for stance, swing, and stride time, respectively. Thus, the DL algorithm is considered successful in detecting gait events in ecologically valid environments across different mobility-limiting diseases.

Authors 49

  1. Robbin Romijnders corresponding

    Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel · University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein

    Affiliation as printed

    Arbeitsgruppe Neurogeriatrie, Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

    Digital Signal Processing and System Theory, Electrical and Information Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany

  2. University of Sassari

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy

  3. University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein

    Affiliation as printed

    Arbeitsgruppe Neurogeriatrie, Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

  4. Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

  5. École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratory of Movement Analysis and Measurement, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

  6. Politecnico di Torino

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Polytechnic of Turin, Turin, Italy

  7. Newcastle University

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  8. École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

    Affiliation as printed

    Laboratory of Movement Analysis and Measurement, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

  9. Robert Bosch Stiftung

    Affiliation as printed

    Gesellschaft für Medizinische Forschung, Robert-Bosch Foundation GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany

  10. University of Sassari

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy

  11. Insigneo · University of Sheffield

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

  12. Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Affiliation as printed

    Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  13. Insigneo · University of Sheffield

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

  14. Newcastle University

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  15. Universitat Pompeu Fabra · Barcelona Institute for Global Health · Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública

    Affiliation as printed

    Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain

    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain

    Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

  16. Politecnico di Torino

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Polytechnic of Turin, Turin, Italy

  17. University College Dublin · Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics

    Affiliation as printed

    Insight Centre for Data Analytics, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

  18. University of Bologna

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRISDV), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Health Sciences and Technologies—Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRISDV), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

  19. University of Bologna

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

  20. Newcastle University

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

    Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  21. Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

  22. Newcastle University

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  23. Grünenthal Group (Germany)

    Affiliation as printed

    Grünenthal GmbH, Aachen, Germany

  24. Universitat Pompeu Fabra · Barcelona Institute for Global Health · Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública

    Affiliation as printed

    Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain

    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain

    Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

  25. Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for the Study of Movement, Cognition and Mobility, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

  26. Tel Aviv University · Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for the Study of Movement, Cognition and Mobility, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Department of Physical Therapy, Sackler Faculty of Medicine & Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

  27. Newcastle University

    Affiliation as printed

    School of Computing, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  28. Northumbria University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  29. University College Dublin · Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics

    Affiliation as printed

    Insight Centre for Data Analytics, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

  30. Newcastle University

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  31. Novartis (Switzerland) · Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg · Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

    Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland

  32. Universitat Pompeu Fabra · Barcelona Institute for Global Health · Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública

    Affiliation as printed

    Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Barcelona, Spain

    CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain

    Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

  33. Insigneo · University of Sheffield

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

  34. Northumbria University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  35. Newcastle University

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  36. Novartis (Switzerland) · Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research

    Affiliation as printed

    Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland

  37. University of Bologna

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Electrical, Electronic and Information Engineering "Guglielmo Marconi", University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Health Sciences and Technologies-Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRISDV), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Health Sciences and Technologies—Interdepartmental Center for Industrial Research (CIRISDV), University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

  38. Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust · Newcastle University

    Affiliation as printed

    Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

    Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  39. Robert Bosch Stiftung

    Affiliation as printed

    Gesellschaft für Medizinische Forschung, Robert-Bosch Foundation GmbH, Stuttgart, Germany

  40. Insigneo · University of Sheffield

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    INSIGNEO Institute for In Silico Medicine, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

  41. Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Neuroscience and Sheffield NIHR Translational Neuroscience BRC, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, United Kingdom

  42. University College Dublin · Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics

    Affiliation as printed

    Insight Centre for Data Analytics, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

    School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland

  43. Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (Switzerland) · École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

    Affiliation as printed

    Digital Health Department, CSEM SA, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

    Laboratory of Movement Analysis and Measurement, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

  44. Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical Engineering, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

  45. Norwegian University of Science and Technology

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

  46. Northumbria University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  47. Newcastle University · University of Sheffield

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom

    Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

  48. Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

    Affiliation as printed

    Digital Signal Processing and System Theory, Electrical and Information Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany

  49. University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein

    Affiliation as printed

    Arbeitsgruppe Neurogeriatrie, Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

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References 106