Self-reported functional mobility, balance confidence, and prosthetic use predict short-term average daily step counts as determined from research-grade accelerometers.
Identifying the role of passive-dynamic ankle-foot orthosis stiffness during gait provides biomechanical rationale for how to customize passive-dynamic ankle-foot orthoses for patients. Furthermore, these findings can be used in the future as the basis for developing objective prescription models to help drive the customization of passive-dynamic ankle-foot orthosis characteristics.
Both monitors accurately counted steps during forward linear walking. StepWatch appears to be more accurate than FitBit during complex walking but a larger sample size may confirm these findings. FitBit consistently counted fewer steps than StepWatch during free-living walking. Clinical relevance The StepWatch and FitBit are acceptable tools for assessing forward, linear walking for individuals with transtibial amputation. Given the results' consistenty in the free-living enviorment, both tools may ultimiately be able to be used to count steps in the real world, but more research is needed to confirm these findings.
Introduction
The ability to walk with different cadences (cadence variability) is considered an important factor for determining the functional ability of individuals with lower-limb amputation and making prosthetic recommendations. However, a method to quantify cadence variability of these individuals has never been presented before, so there are no standardized methodologies or values to guide prosthesis prescription. The purpose of this study was to develop and demonstrate feasibility of a method to quantify real-world cadence variability.
Materials and Methods
The method utilizes step-count data collected by an accelerometer-based activity monitor. Cadence at each minute is calculated. Then, the spread of the cadence data distribution during a 7-day observation period is measured to quantify cadence variability. To demonstrate feasibility, this method was applied to a set of step-count data for individuals with unilateral lower-limb amputation classified by their health care provider as a K2 or K3 ambulator.
Results
Results showed that this method was able to differentiate the cadence characteristics of individuals classified as K2 versus K3. On average, individuals classified as K2 walked with significantly less cadence variability than those classified as K3.
Conclusions
This study provides a novel method for objectively determining cadence variability and provides a foundation for ultimately developing normative cadence characteristic values for K2 and K3 levels.
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