The overall aim of this project is to monitor everyday life activity of children with neurological disorders undergoing rehabilitation using wearable sensors capable of accurate and unobtrusive long-term measurement. Specific objectives: 1. To adapt the sensors for the use by children with neurological disorders. The focus lies on the exact positioning and the investigation of the needed amount of IMUs. 2. To validate the sensor data with collected video recordings and to develop specific algorithms to automatically extract specific movements and to analyze long-term sensor recordings. 3. To perform a cross-sectional study to assess intensity, task-specificity and duration of upper and lower limb activity during rehabilitation. There, we aim to gain objective information about levels and types of activity during rehabilitation in relation to age, gender and disorder. 4. To conduct a responsiveness study to assess whether or not the sensor output is able to highlight changes over time during rehabilitation. Therefore, at time point T=0 (shortly after admission to our center), participants are equipped with 3 inertial measurement units (1 at each wrist and 1 at the sternum). Additionally, a small wearable camera is mounted to the chest. The participants then return to their everyday life for 4 hours (no therapies, measurement period is in the evening). Afterwards, the equipment is removed again. To investigate responsiveness, the same protocol is being repeated 4 weeks later (time point T=1).
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
40
Rehabilitation Center of the Children's University Hospital
Affoltern am Albis, Switzerland
Counts per minute at time point T=0
From the wearable sensors at the wrist, a count/minute statistic is calculated that reflects the amount of activity the child performs during that time.
Time frame: At T=0
Counts per minute at time point T=1
From the wearable sensors at the wrist, a count/minute statistic is calculated that reflects the amount of activity the child performs during that time.
Time frame: At T=1 (4 weeks after T=0)
Motor assessment: Melbourne 2 at time point T=0
The Melbourne Assessment 2: a test of unilateral upper limb function is a validated and reliable tool for evaluating quality of upper limb movement in children with neurological conditions aged 2.5 to 15 years. For ease of use the assessment's full title is simplified to The Melbourne Assessment 2 or MA2. The MA2 is a criterion-referenced test that extends and refines the scale properties of the original Melbourne Assessment. The MA2 measures four elements of upper limb movement quality: movement range, accuracy, dexterity and fluency. It comprises 14 test items of reaching to, grasping, releasing and manipulating simple objects. Each child's test performance is videorecorded for subsequent scoring.
Time frame: At T=0
Parent questionnaire: Abilhand-Kids at time point T=0
The ABILHAND-Kids is a measure of manual ability for children with upper limb impairments. The scale measures a person's ability to manage daily activities that require the use of the upper limbs, whatever the strategies involved.
Time frame: At T=0
Motor assessment: Melbourne 2 at time point T=1
The Melbourne Assessment 2: a test of unilateral upper limb function is a validated and reliable tool for evaluating quality of upper limb movement in children with neurological conditions aged 2.5 to 15 years. For ease of use the assessment's full title is simplified to The Melbourne Assessment 2 or MA2. The MA2 is a criterion-referenced test that extends and refines the scale properties of the original Melbourne Assessment. The MA2 measures four elements of upper limb movement quality: movement range, accuracy, dexterity and fluency. It comprises 14 test items of reaching to, grasping, releasing and manipulating simple objects. Each child's test performance is videorecorded for subsequent scoring.
Time frame: At T=1 (4 weeks after T=0)
Parent questionnaire: Abilhand-Kids at time point T=1
The ABILHAND-Kids is a measure of manual ability for children with upper limb impairments. The scale measures a person's ability to manage daily activities that require the use of the upper limbs, whatever the strategies involved.
Time frame: At T=1 (4 weeks after T=0)
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