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Infant posture and movement analysis using a sensor-supported gym with toys

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Abstract

Infant posture and motor pattern development are normally analyzed by clinical assessment scales. Lately, this approach is combined with the use of sensor-supported systems, such as optical, inertial, and electromagnetic measurement systems, as well as novel assessment devices, such as CareToy. CareToy is a modular device for assessment and rehabilitation of preterm infants, comprising pressure mattresses, inertial and magnetic measurement units, and sensorized toys. Since such integrated sensor system combination is new to the field of sensor-supported infant behavior assessment and rehabilitation, dedicated methods for data analysis were developed and presented. These comprise trunk rotation, arm movement, forearm orientation, and head movement analysis, along with toy play and trunk posture stability evaluation. Methods were tested on case study data, evaluating suitability of developed algorithms for infant posture and activity analysis, regardless of behavioral responses. Obtained results demonstrate suitability of the proposed methods for successful use in studies of different motor pattern subfields. This represents an important step on the course towards objective, accurate, sensor-supported infant motor development assessment.

Posture and movement assessment of infants using analysis of sensory data, obtained with a dedicated sensorized gym with toys

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Abbreviations

AIMS:

Alberta Infant Motor Scale

ANT:

anterior

CAU:

caudal

COP:

center-of-pressure

COR:

coronal plane

CRA:

cranial

EMG:

electromyography

FA:

forearm

IMU:

wireless magneto-inertial measurement unit

LAT:

lateral

MED:

medial

POS:

posterior

RCT:

randomized clinical trial

RMSd:

root-mean-square displacement

ROM:

range-of-motion

TIMP:

test of infant motor performance

UKF:

unscented Kalman filter

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Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Elena Beani and Emanuela Inguaggiato for monitoring infants’ training, as well as Matteo Giampietri and Laura Bartalena for enrolling infants at Santa Chiara Hospital of Pisa (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit).

Funding

This work was funded by the European Union Collaborative Project CareToy grant ICT-2011.5.1-287932 and additionally supported by the Slovenian Research Agency.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Robotics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Trzaska cesta 25, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Andraž Rihar, Matjaž Mihelj, Jure Pašič & Marko Munih

  2. IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Viale del Tirreno 331, 56128, Calambrone, Pisa, Italy

    Giuseppina Sgandurra & Giovanni Cioni

  3. Scuola Superiore Sant’ Anna, The BioRobotics Institute, Viale Rinaldo Piaggio 34, 56025, Pontedera, Pisa, Italy

    Francesca Cecchi & Paolo Dario

  4. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 56125, Pisa, Italy

    Giovanni Cioni

Authors
  1. Andraž Rihar
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  2. Matjaž Mihelj
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  3. Jure Pašič
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  4. Giuseppina Sgandurra
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  5. Francesca Cecchi
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  6. Giovanni Cioni
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  7. Paolo Dario
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  8. Marko Munih
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andraž Rihar.

Ethics declarations

Signed informed consent was obtained from infant parents before the start of assessment, while the measurements were performed in compliance with Helsinki Declaration. Suitability of the measurement protocol was approved by Tuscan Region Pediatric Ethics Committee and Italian Ministry of Health (DGDFSC 0066613-P-17/09/2013).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Rihar, A., Mihelj, M., Pašič, J. et al. Infant posture and movement analysis using a sensor-supported gym with toys. Med Biol Eng Comput 57, 427–439 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-018-1890-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-018-1890-4

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