Test-retest Reliability and Intratest Repeatability of Measuring Lumbar Range of Motion Using Inertial Measurement Unit^※

Article information

Acupunct. 2014;31(1):61-73

Publication date (electronic) : 2014 March 20

doi : https://doi.org/10.13045/acupunct.2014007

Ji Hoon Ahn ¹^,², Hyun Ho Kim ², Woo Suck Youn ³, Sun Ho Lee ¹, You Bin Shin ¹, Sang Min Kim ¹, Young Jae Park ²^,³, Young Bae Park ²^,³^,

¹Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Medicine, DaeJeon Jaseng Hospital of Oriental Medicine

²Department of Biofunctional Medicine and Diagnostics, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University

³Department of Human Informatics of Korean Medicine, Interdisciplinary Programs, Kyung Hee University

^*Corresponding author : Department of Biofunctional Medicine and Diagnostics, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 23, Kyungheedae-ro, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, 130-872, Republic of Korea, Tel : 82-2-958-9240 E mail : bmppark@khu.ac.kr

Received 2014 February 10; Revised 2014 March 06; Accepted 2014 March 10.

Abstract

Objectives :

The purpose of this study is to estimate the test-retest reliability and the intratest repeatability in measuring the lumbar range of motion of healthy volunteers with wireless microelectromechanical system inertial measurement unit(MEMS-IMU) system and to discuss the feasibility of this system in the clinical setting to evaluate the lumbar spine movement.

Methods :

19 healthy male volunteers were participated, who got under 21 points at oswestry disability index(ODI) were adopted. Their lumbar motion were measured with IMU twice in consecutive an hour for the test-retest reliability study. Intratest repeatability was calculated in the two tests separately. The calculated intraclass correlation coefficients(ICC) were discussed and compared with the those of the previous studies.

Results :

Lumbar range of motion of flexion 41.45°, extension 16.34°, right lateral bending 16.41° left lateral bending 13.63° right rotation −2.47°, left rotation −0.61°. ICCs were 0.96∼1.00(intratest repeatability) and 0.61∼0.92(test-retest reliability).

Conclusion :

This study shows that MEMS-IMU system demonstrates a high test-retest reliability and intratest repeatability by calculated intraclass correlation coefficients. The results of this study represents that wireless inertial sensor measurement system has portable and economical efficiency. By MEMS-IMU system, we can measures lumbar range of motion and analyze lumbar motion effectively.

Keywords: LROM; Lumbar range of motion; IMU; Inertial sensor

Fig. 1.

Depicts the flow chart for the method of a study based on a report of the average lumbar range of motion of 19 healthy volunteers with microelectromechanical system inertial measurement unit

Fig. 2.

Microelectromechanical system inertial measurement unit transmitter

Fig. 3.

Photograph of 2 microelectromechanical system inertial measurement unit transmitters attachment locations

L1 spinous process and between posterior superior iliac spine.

Fig. 4.

A screenshot of basic posture, flexion, extension, right lateral bending, left lateral bending and right rotation movement from the sample movie

Fig. 5.

A sample graph of a lumbar flexion movement

Green line symbolizes lumbar flexion movement. Each volunteer performed the flexion movement 3 times.

Fig. 6.

A sample graph of a lumbar extension movement

Blue line symbolizes a lumbar extension movement.

Each volunteer performed the extension movement 3 times.

Fig. 7.

A sample graph of a right lateral bending movement of lumbar

Red line symbolizes right lateral bending movement.

Each volunteer performed the right lateral bending movement 3 times.

Fig. 8.

A sample graph of right rotation movement of lumbar. Orange line symbolizes right rotation movement. Each volunteer performed the right rotation movement 3 times

Table 1.

Evaluation Circumstances

Table 2.

Lumbar Range of Motion and Reliability

Notes

^※

This study was supported by a grant of the Korean Health Technology R & D Project(HI13C0510) Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea

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