University of Illinois Research Team Conducts Validation Study on ETRAK System
When developing new technology, one crucial step is to validate its effectiveness. In simple terms, does it perform as claimed?
Validation involves comparing the new technology to the current gold standard. For instance, if Company A develops an app that measures objects through pictures, a validation study might involve measuring various objects using both the app and a tape measure, and then comparing these measurements with statistical software.
Over the past few years, researchers at the University of Illinois and Carle Illinois School of Medicine have been conducting a validation study on the ETRAK Phoenix wearable system, comparing it to the Vicon motion capture system. The Vicon system consists of 12 sensors applied to the subject and 10 cameras.
The study, titled "Validity and Reliability of a Single Inertial Measurement Unit: A Real-Time Kinematic Assessment Tool for the Clinic and Classroom" (PDF file), focused on comparing movement data of the arm of a recumbent cyclist in all three planes using both the ETRAK and Vicon systems. The study included data from seven different individuals. Each subject had 12 Vicon sensors placed on their right arm, while an ETRAK Phoenix wearable was placed on their wrist. The subjects then performed three 10-second cycling trials at a self-selected pace, during which both systems collected data.
Following data collection, the researchers used SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) software to compare the data. The researchers concluded that there was a high correlation between ETRAK and Vicon in the x-axis, and a moderately high correlation in the y and z axes. Furthermore, they found that the ETRAK system demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability, consistently producing accurate results.
The University of Illinois research team reached the conclusion that the ETRAK Phoenix IMU is both reliable and valid -
Results support stand-alone IMUs as valid and reliable for analyzing movement. This work paves the way for future research and education using IMU technology to clinically assess movement disorders. - Bloomer et al., 2023
The study also highlights the potential impact of ETRAK on the clinical assessment of conditions that cause movement and gait disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and cerebral palsy. The ETRAK system is an affordable tool for objectively assessing movement patterns in real-time.
Conclusion: We express our immense gratitude to Dr. Joseph Peters and his team for their dedication to this project. While we currently utilize ETRAK to enhance understanding of golf for golfers and instructors, we are thrilled to witness the diverse applications of this tool in the sports and healthcare industries. Our user base includes dance injury prevention, physical therapy research and education, injury assessment and rehabilitation, as well as equine physical therapy professionals. We eagerly anticipate witnessing the further utilization of this tool by health and sports professionals in the years to come!
