Wearable inertial sensors for human movement analysis.
BACKGROUND
The present review aims to provide an overview of the most common uses of wearable inertial sensors in the field of clinical human movement analysis.


METHODS
Six main areas of application are analysed: gait analysis, stabilometry, instrumented clinical tests, upper body mobility assessment, daily-life activity monitoring and tremor assessment. Each area is analyzed both from a methodological and applicative point of view. The focus on the methodological approaches is meant to provide an idea of the computational complexity behind a variable/parameter/index of interest so that the reader is aware of the reliability of the approach. The focus on the application is meant to provide a practical guide for advising clinicians on how inertial sensors can help them in their clinical practice. Expert commentary: Less expensive and more easy to use than other systems used in human movement analysis, wearable sensors have evolved to the point that they can be considered ready for being part of routine clinical routine.
a Clinical Laboratory of Experimental Neurorehabilitation , Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS , Roma , Italy.
Marco
M
Iosa
b Faculty of Psychology, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences , 'eCampus' University , Novedrate , CO , Italy.
Pietro
P
Picerno
a Clinical Laboratory of Experimental Neurorehabilitation , Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS , Roma , Italy.
Stefano
S
Paolucci
a Clinical Laboratory of Experimental Neurorehabilitation , Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS , Roma , Italy.
Giovanni
G
Morone
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D014202:Tremor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology
Accelerometry; biomechanics; gait analysis; kinematics; motor assessment; rehabilitation