Network of movement and proximity sensors for monitoring upper-extremity motor activity after stroke: proof of principle.
OBJECTIVE
To test the convergent validity of an objective method, Sensor-Enabled Radio-frequency Identification System for Monitoring Arm Activity (SERSMAA), that distinguishes between functional and nonfunctional activity.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Laboratory.


METHODS
Participants (N=25) were ≥0.2 years poststroke (median, 9) with a wide range of severity of upper-extremity hemiparesis.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
After stroke, laboratory tests of the motor capacity of the more-affected arm poorly predict spontaneous use of that arm in daily life. However, available subjective methods for measuring everyday arm use are vulnerable to self-report biases, whereas available objective methods only provide information on the amount of activity without regard to its relation with function. The SERSMAA consists of a proximity-sensor receiver on the more-affected arm and multiple units placed on objects. Functional activity is signaled when the more-affected arm is close to an object that is moved. Participants were videotaped during a laboratory simulation of an everyday activity, that is, setting a table with cups, bowls, and plates instrumented with transmitters. Observers independently coded the videos in 2-second blocks with a validated system for classifying more-affected arm activity.


RESULTS
There was a strong correlation (r=.87, P<.001) between time that the more-affected arm was used for handling objects according to the SERSMAA and functional activity according to the observers.


CONCLUSIONS
The convergent validity of SERSMAA for measuring more-affected arm functional activity after stroke was supported in a simulation of everyday activity.
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Brad
B
Sokal
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL; Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Electronic address: guswatte@uab.edu.
Gitendra
G
Uswatte
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Joydip
J
Barman
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Michael
M
Brewer
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Ezekiel
E
Byrom
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Jessica
J
Latten
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Jeethu
J
Joseph
Department of Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL.
Camila
C
Serafim
ActiveWave Inc, Boca Raton, FL.
Touraj
T
Ghaffari
Department of Mechanical and Computer Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN.
Nilanjan
N
Sarkar
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000503:physiopathology*
Arm; Outcome and process assessment (health care); Paresis; Rehabilitation; Stroke