Wearable Sensor Technology and Biomechanical Gait Analysis in Post-Stroke Rehabilitation: A Review with Implications for the Saudi Healthcare System

Stroke remains a major cause of disability worldwide, with gait impairment affecting up to 80% of survivors and contributing to long-term dependence, fall risk, and reduced quality of life. In Saudi Arabia, stroke incidence is rising, with a significant burden on younger populations and disparities in access to post-stroke rehabilitation services. Conventional gait analysis tools rely on expensive, specialized laboratory equipment, which limits their availability in low-resource and rural settings. Recent advances in wearable sensor technologies, including inertial measurement units, pressure insoles, and electromyography systems, offer portable, scalable, and cost-efficient options for assessing gait in real-world environments. These systems can offer continuous monitoring, tele-rehabilitation, and personalized feedback, aligning with global shifts toward digital health oversight. This review explores the application of wearable sensor-based gait analysis in post-stroke rehabilitation, highlighting sensor modalities, clinical utility, implementation challenges, and opportunities, particularly in Saudi Arabia, to strengthen rehabilitation services and optimize patient outcomes.