A standardised template for reporting lower limb kinematic waveform movement compensations from a sensor-based portable clinical movement analysis toolkit

Abstract

Objectives: To develop a standardised template to support physiotherapist reporting of lower limb kinematic waveform data Design: Within and between user agreement identification of movement compensation strategies. Setting: University Health Board Physiotherapy Department Participants: Fourteen individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction performed overground gait, double-leg squat, and stair ascent wearing body-worn sensors. Six users viewed 252 kinematic waveforms of hip, knee and ankle joint angles in the sagittal and frontal planes. Main outcome measures: Between and within-user observed agreement and themes from movement analysis reports Results: Between-user observed agreement for presence of a movement compensation was 0.6–0.9 for the sagittal plane and 0.75–1.0 for the frontal place. Within-user observed agreement was 0.57–1.00 for the sagittal plane and 0.71–1.00 for the frontal plane. Three themes and seven categories were identified from the waveform interpretations: Amount (qualitative and quantitative description), timing (phase, discrete time point, cycle), and nature (peak, range of motion, timing) of the compensation. Conclusion: There was good agreement between users at identifying the presence of movement compensation from the kinematic waveforms, but there was variation in how movement compensations were described. An interactive report, a standardised template for interpretation of kinematic waveforms, and training to support the clinical application of a movement analysis toolkit are proposed.

Keywords

• Compensation strategies
• Kinematics
• Sensors
• Physiotherapy
• Knee joint
• Wearable technology