ACCURACY OF INERTIAL MEASUREMENT UNIT POSITION FOR MEASURING THE HEAD AND TRUNK ANGLES
Keywords:
IMU, Walking, Sit to StandAbstract
The Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) has garnered popularity for its application in measuring joint
angles during movement due to its cost-effectiveness and suitability for field testing. However, there are
instances where the IMU may require relocation, necessitating validation of the accuracy of its new placement.
Therefore, the objective of this study was to study the accuracy and reliability of the IMU angle sensor compared
with a ‘gold-standard’ retro-reflective motion capture system. Ten healthy volunteers (age 21.33±0.69 years,
weight 66.44±11.88 kg, height 173.11±0.05 cm.) performed the sit to stand (STS) and walking test (WT). Three
successful trials were averaged. Kinematic data were collected using ten optoelectronic cameras (OMC) and
four IMU sensors at 200 Hz. Cluster markers and IMU were attached on forehead, back of head, sternum and
C7. Bland-Altman plots demonstrated the point distribution within the interval to validate the IMU locations and
twice systems. The levels of significant were set at p < 0.05. Paired samples t-test showed no significant
difference between IMU vs OMC and IMU vs IMU in three planes during STS (p > 0.05), however, it showed
significant difference between IMU vs IMU in lateral flexion plane during WT (p > 0.05). In conclusion, these
findings demonstrate the feasibility of relocating IMU sensors for recording each body segment. The IMU can
be considered a valid and accurate for measuring the head and thorax range of motion However, the
attachment of the device to the skin emerges as a critical factor that can markedly influence data accuracy,
potentially leading to inaccurate.
(Journal of Sports Science and Technology 2024; 24(1):82-93))
(Received: 24 April 2024, Revised: 10 July 2024, Accepted: 16 July 2024)
Corresponding Author: Atipong MONGKOLPICHAYARUK
College of Sports Science and Technology, Mahidol University,
Nakhon Pathom, 73170, THAILAND
E-mail: atipong.mon@mahidol.edu
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