Background: A validity and reliability assessment of inertial measurement unit (IMU)-derived joint angular kinematics during walking is a necessary step for motion analysis in the lower extremity prosthesis user population. This study aimed to assess the accuracy and reliability of an inertial measurement unit (IMU) system compared to an optical motion capture (OMC) system in transtibial prosthesis (TTP) users.
Methods: Thirty TTP users were recruited and underwent simultaneous motion capture from IMU and OMC systems during walking. Reliability and validity were assessed using intra- and inter-subject variability with standard deviation (S.D.), average S.D., and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).
Results: The intra-subject S.D. for all rotations of the lower limb joints were less than 1° for both systems. The IMU system had a lower mean S.D. (o), as seen in inter-subject variability. The ICC revealed good to excellent agreement between the two systems for all sagittal kinematic parameters.
Conclusion: All joint angular kinematic comparisons supported the IMU system's results as comparable to OMC. The IMU was capable of precise sagittal plane motion data and demonstrated validity and reliability to OMC. These findings evidence that when compared to OMC, an IMU system may serve well in evaluating the gait of lower limb prosthesis users.
Keywords: gait parameters assessment; inertial measurement unit (IMU); intra- and inter-subject variability; optical motion capture (OMC); transtibial prosthesis.