Validation of wearable visual feedback for retraining foot progression angle using inertial sensors and an augmented reality headset.
Angelos Karatsidis, Rosie E Richards, Jason M Konrath and 5 others
PMID 30111337WHAT IT FOUND
A wearable system using inertial sensors and an augmented reality headset tracked foot angle with accuracy matching a laboratory setup.
It provided visual feedback that helped healthy adults hit target angles at a similar rate to the lab system, offering a cheaper, portable alternative for gait retraining.
Key findings
01The wearable system's foot angle estimates matched the laboratory system closely, with a root-mean-squared difference of 2.38 degrees.
02Feedback effectiveness was similar between the wearable and laboratory systems, with roughly 50% of steps falling within the target range for both.
03The study was conducted on healthy young adults, not patients with knee osteoarthritis, so its applicability to the target clinical population is untested.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted on 11 healthy young adults (mean age 28 years), not the target population of older patients with knee osteoarthritis who may have mobility restrictions or difficulty with technology. The wearable system requires seven IMUs, which may be cumbersome for long-term daily use or home-based training. The Microsoft HoloLens used is heavy, bulky, and has a narrow field of view, limiting its practicality for unobtrusive daily life use. The study only evaluated immediate feedback effectiveness during treadmill walking, not long-term gait retention or clinical outcomes like pain reduction. The ±2 degree target range was arbitrarily chosen, and the optimal threshold for clinical benefit is unknown.
Declared interests
The study was funded by FP7 People: Marie-Curie Actions. No other conflicts of interest were reported.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this system is ready for clinical use with knee osteoarthritis patients. It was validated only in healthy young adults on a treadmill, and its effectiveness in older patients with potential alignment issues or technology unfamiliarity has not been established.