Accuracy and comparison of sensor-based gait speed estimations under standardized and daily life conditions in children undergoing rehabilitation.
Fabian Marcel Rast, Seraina Aschwanden, Charlotte Werner and 2 others
PMID 36195950WHAT IT FOUND
A single ankle sensor estimates children's gait speed accurately, but only if you average four walking trials.
Children walk at different speeds in daily life compared to a 10-metre test, so clinical assessments may not reflect their real-world mobility.
Key findings
01Averaging four walking trials allows a single ankle sensor to detect clinically important changes in gait speed.
02Most children did not walk at the same speed during a standardized 10-metre test as they did during daily life activities.
03For children with asymmetrical impairments, the sensor should be placed on the less affected side, or the side with an orthosis if one is worn.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small (24 children) and heterogeneous in diagnosis. The 'daily life' condition was limited to straight, flat hallways within a clinic, not the complex environments of home or school. The reference method for daily life speed (video of floor marks) may have underestimated actual speed if children did not walk in a perfectly straight line. The algorithm requires a separate step to detect walking episodes in unlabeled data, which could introduce further errors. Test-retest reliability and between-day variability were not assessed in this study.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the Walter Muggli Fund of the ACCENTUS Foundation, Children’s Research Center of the University Children’s Hospital of Zurich, Anna Mueller Grocholski Foundation, and International Foundation for Research in Paraplegia. No commercial conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that a child's performance on a 10-metre walk test reflects their typical daily walking speed. In this study, 14 of 24 children walked at a different speed in daily life than during the test. Clinical decisions about functional independence should not be based solely on standardized test results.