Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Supervisor

Walton, David M.

Abstract

The ability to move the neck is usually a good indicator of neck health. However, the tools currently available to measure neck range of motion rely on gravity and the clinician's ability to accurately line the instruments on specific landmarks of the body. This study explored whether a commercially available wearable sensor, C-Stretch® that is flexible and lightweight can capture the functional performance of cervical motion across testing sessions. Furthermore, an assessment of the C-Stretch® against Aurora NDI, an electromagnetic tracking system was explored to determine the feasibility of transforming raw capacitance data into degrees of motion. Finally, a survey explored the user’s experience with C-Stretch®. The C-Stretch® was able to monitor cervical motion across testing with good reliability for the Bag-Lift and poor reliability for the Bag-Slide and Star task (ICC2,1 0.57, 0.39, 0.37), respectively. The systems accuracy and agreement for rotational neck motion were evaluated. The C-Stretch® showed high correlation (r = 0.90-0.99, p < 0.01) for areas of overlap and was accurate for both sessions with average RMSE values of 5.06° (95% C.I = 0.30° to 10.10°) for the first session and 5.34° (95% C.I = 0.10° to 10.79°) for the second session with respect to the electromagnetic tracking system. Overall, users tolerated the C-Stretch® and did not find it uncomfortable. This study highlights the feasibility of using wearable stretch sensors that are light, unobtrusive and comfortable for assessing functional performance of the cervical spine.

Summary for Lay Audience

The ability to move the neck is usually a good indicator of neck health. However, the tools currently available to measure neck range of motion rely on gravity and the clinician's ability to accurately line the instruments on specific landmarks of the body. The current study explores the use of a commercially available wearable stretch-sensitive sensor (C-Stretch®) along the sides of the neck of participants while they perform standardized tasks in a lab environment. The results were then compared against a gold-standard tracking system to assess whether this tool can be used to measure rotational neck movement. The results indicate that C-Stretch was able to monitor neck motion across testing sessions with good reliability for the first task, Bag-Lift and poor reliability for the second and third tasks, Bag-Slide and Star task (ICC2,1 0.57, 0.39, 0.37), respectively. For accuracy and agreement the C-Stretch® showed high correlation (r = 0.90-0.99, p < 0.01) for areas of overlap and was accurate for both sessions with average RMSE values of 5.07° (95% C.I = 0.30° to 10.10°) for the first session and 5.34° (95% C.I = 0.10° to 10.79°) for the second session in comparison to the electromagnetic tracking system. Overall, users tolerated the C-Stretch® and did not find it uncomfortable.

Download

Share

COinS