Assessment of Segmental Postural Control During Reaching in Typically Developing Children Using a Single Inertial Measurement Unit

Background: Clinicians working with children with neuromotor impairments require sensitive measures to assess postural control and evaluate interventions. This study explored the sensitivity of a single Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) to changes in postural control during reaching in sitting with clinician support at different segmental levels: upper thoracic, lower thoracic, lower lumbar, and no support. The effect of pelvic-stabilizing straps was examined. Methods: A single Delsys Trigno IMU sensor attached over the mid-thoracic spine recorded acceleration and angular velocity data during a reaching task in sitting in ten typically developing children. Results: Comparisons of the support levels showed a significantly lower range of accelerations in the medial–lateral and anterior–posterior directions when support was provided at the upper thoracic level compared to support at the lower lumbar level. The range of angular velocity in the sagittal and coronal planes showed progressively lower values as the level of support moved cranially. Pelvic stability straps allowed for a significantly greater range of acceleration values in all directions and a greater range of angular velocities in the sagittal and transverse planes. Conclusions: These exploratory findings suggest that IMUs may have clinical utility in postural control assessment and evaluating the effects of intervention in children with neuromotor impairment.