Reliable Gait Parameters from a Lower-Back IMU for Fall Risk Assessment

• Published in: International Conference on Bio-engineering for Smart Technologies (Online) pp. 1 - 4
• Main Authors: Chouchani, Peter, Ramia, Maria k., Chkeir, Aly
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 14.05.2025
• Subjects: Accelerometers; fall prediction; Feature extraction; gait analysis; gait parameters; inertial measurement units (IMUs); Inertial navigation; Legged locomotion; Measurement units; Older adults; Prevention and mitigation; Reliability; Reproducibility of results; Spatiotemporal phenomena; TUG Test
• ISSN: 2831-4352
• DOI: 10.1109/BioSMART66413.2025.11046160

Accurate and reliable gait assessment is essential for fall prevention, particularly among older adults. Inertial measurement units (1MUs) represent a portable and affordable alternative to traditional motion capture systems. This study investigates the reproducibility of gait parameters obtained from a single lower-back IMU during walking at three self-selected speeds: slow, normal, and fast. After signal preprocessing, we extracted features related to gait intensity (e.g., speed, cadence), variability (e.g., stride duration variation), and energy expenditure (via estimated VO 2 ). Reproducibility was evaluated using the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC2). Results showed that spatiotemporal parameters such as speed, cadence, and stride length were highly reliable, especially at normal and fast speeds (ICC > 0.75). However, variability metrics and medio-lateral power were less consistent at slow speeds, likely due to reduced motion amplitude. These findings support the use of IMUs for gait monitoring in both clinical and research settings. Additionally, by aligning the analysis with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, this approach enhances a standard geriatric evaluation with richer biomechanical insights to better inform fall-risk assessment.