Digital Biomarkers of Gait and Balance in Diabetic Foot, Measurable by Wearable Inertial Measurement Units: A Mini Review
Gu Eon Kang,
Angeloh Stout,
Ke’Vaughn Waldon,
Seungmin Kang,
Amanda L. Killeen,
Peter A. Crisologo,
Michael Siah,
Daniel Jupiter,
Bijan Najafi,
Ashkan Vaziri,
Lawrence A. Lavery
Affiliations
Gu Eon Kang
Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
Angeloh Stout
Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
Ke’Vaughn Waldon
Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
Seungmin Kang
Department of Bioengineering, Erik Jonsson School of Engineering & Computer Science, The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
Amanda L. Killeen
Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
Peter A. Crisologo
Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
Michael Siah
Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
Daniel Jupiter
Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
Bijan Najafi
Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Ashkan Vaziri
BioSensics LLC, Newton, MA 02458, USA
Lawrence A. Lavery
Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
People with diabetic foot frequently exhibit gait and balance dysfunction. Recent advances in wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) enable to assess some of the gait and balance dysfunction associated with diabetic foot (i.e., digital biomarkers of gait and balance). However, there is no review to inform digital biomarkers of gait and balance dysfunction related to diabetic foot, measurable by wearable IMUs (e.g., what gait and balance parameters can wearable IMUs collect? Are the measurements repeatable?). Accordingly, we conducted a web-based, mini review using PubMed. Our search was limited to human subjects and English-written papers published in peer-reviewed journals. We identified 20 papers in this mini review. We found preliminary evidence of digital biomarkers of gait and balance dysfunction in people with diabetic foot, such as slow gait speed, large gait variability, unstable gait initiation, and large body sway. However, due to heterogeneities in included papers in terms of study design, movement tasks, and small sample size, more studies are recommended to confirm this preliminary evidence. Additionally, based on our mini review, we recommend establishing appropriate strategies to successfully incorporate wearable-based assessment into clinical practice for diabetic foot care.
