Evaluation of functional tests performance using a camera-based and machine learning approach

PLoS One. 2023 Nov 3;18(11):e0288279. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288279. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

The objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of functional tests using a camera-based system and machine learning techniques. Specifically, we investigate whether OpenPose and any standard camera can be used to assess the quality of the Single Leg Squat Test and Step Down Test functional tests. We recorded these exercises performed by forty-six healthy subjects, extract motion data, and classify them to expert assessments by three independent physiotherapists using 15 binary parameters. We calculated ranges of movement in Keypoint-pair orientations, joint angles, and relative distances of the monitored segments and used machine learning algorithms to predict the physiotherapists' assessments. Our results show that the AdaBoost classifier achieved a specificity of 0.8, a sensitivity of 0.68, and an accuracy of 0.7. Our findings suggest that a camera-based system combined with machine learning algorithms can be a simple and inexpensive tool to assess the performance quality of functional tests.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Humans
  • Machine Learning*
  • Motion
  • Movement*

Grants and funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Science & Technology, Israel, and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic. The described research was supported by the project No. LTAIZ19008 (Czech - supported authors: JA, LL, JD, PK, JH), and No. 8773451 (Israel - supported authors: YS, OH) Enhancing Robotic Physiotherapeutic Treatment using Machine Learning, awarded within the framework of the Czech–Israeli cooperative scientific research program (Inter-Excellence MEYS CR and MOST Israel). The funders had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. On the Czech side (supported authors: LL, JA, JD), the project received partial funding from the Technology Agency of the Czech Republic (TAČR), under the project number TM03000048.