Instability prediction by monitoring center of pressure during standing

Xavier Tortolero; Kei Masani; Timothy A Thrasher; Milos R Popovic

doi:10.1109/IEMBS.2006.259526

Instability prediction by monitoring center of pressure during standing

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2006:2006:5412-5. doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2006.259526.

Authors

Xavier Tortolero¹, Kei Masani, Timothy A Thrasher, Milos R Popovic

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Biomaterials & Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, ON, Canada. xavier.tortolero@utoronto.ca

PMID: 17947140
DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2006.259526

Abstract

Incorporating an instability predictor into a portable sensor has a number of clinically relevant applications. This study investigated the feasibility of developing a real-time assessment tool to predict stepping during standing by monitoring Center of Pressure (COP) measurements. Forward and backward perturbations were performed on 16 able-bodied subjects using a pulley system attached to the subjects' waist. A linear relationship was found between the peak COP velocity (COPv) and the peak COP position caused by the perturbations. As the peak COPv occurs considerably before the peak COP, the peak COP estimated using a regression equation from the peak COPv may serve as an instability predictor. By comparing stepping thresholds with the estimated peak COP, we found that the stepping predictor successfully predicted instability (stepping) earlier than those predictors using actual COP. Results show that the proposed model is a viable solution to predict stepping, and the feasibility of incorporating the model into a neuroprosthesis system for standing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Biomechanical Phenomena
Equipment Design
Female
Humans
Least-Squares Analysis
Male
Monitoring, Ambulatory / methods
Postural Balance*
Posture*
Pressure
Regression Analysis
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Time Factors