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Keywords = stoop walking

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20 pages, 28928 KB  
Article
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Plantar Pressure Sensors for Fall Detection in Sloped Surfaces
by Tarek Mahmud, Rujan Kayastha, Krishna Kisi, Anne Hee Ngu and Sana Alamgeer
Electronics 2025, 14(15), 3003; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14153003 - 28 Jul 2025
Viewed by 740
Abstract
Falls are a major safety concern in physically demanding occupations such as roofing, where workers operate on inclined surfaces under unstable postures. While inertial measurement units (IMUs) are widely used in wearable fall detection systems, they often fail to capture early indicators of [...] Read more.
Falls are a major safety concern in physically demanding occupations such as roofing, where workers operate on inclined surfaces under unstable postures. While inertial measurement units (IMUs) are widely used in wearable fall detection systems, they often fail to capture early indicators of instability related to foot–ground interactions. This study evaluates the effectiveness of plantar pressure sensors, alone and combined with IMUs, for fall detection on sloped surfaces. We collected data in a controlled laboratory environment using a custom-built roof mockup with incline angles of 0°, 15°, and 30°. Participants performed roofing-relevant activities, including standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, and simulated fall events. Statistical features were extracted from synchronized IMU and plantar pressure data, and multiple machine learning models were trained and evaluated, including traditional classifiers and deep learning architectures, such as MLP and CNN. Our results show that integrating plantar pressure sensors significantly improves fall detection. A CNN using just three IMUs and two plantar pressure sensors achieved the highest F1 score of 0.88, outperforming the full 17-sensor IMU setup. These findings support the use of multimodal sensor fusion for developing efficient and accurate wearable systems for fall detection and physical health monitoring. Full article
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20 pages, 1941 KB  
Article
High-Knee-Flexion Posture Recognition Using Multi-Dimensional Dynamic Time Warping on Inertial Sensor Data
by Annemarie F. Laudanski, Arne Küderle, Felix Kluge, Bjoern M. Eskofier and Stacey M. Acker
Sensors 2025, 25(4), 1083; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25041083 - 11 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1516
Abstract
Relating continuously collected inertial data to the activities or postures performed by the sensor wearer requires pattern recognition or machine-learning-based algorithms, accounting for the temporal and scale variability present in human movements. The objective of this study was to develop a sensor-based framework [...] Read more.
Relating continuously collected inertial data to the activities or postures performed by the sensor wearer requires pattern recognition or machine-learning-based algorithms, accounting for the temporal and scale variability present in human movements. The objective of this study was to develop a sensor-based framework for the detection and measurement of high-flexion postures frequently adopted in occupational settings. IMU-based joint angle estimates for the ankle, knee, and hip were time and scale normalized prior to being input to a multi-dimensional Dynamic Time Warping (mDTW) distance-based Nearest Neighbour algorithm for the identification of twelve postures. Data from 50 participants were divided to develop and evaluate the mDTW model. Overall accuracies of 82.3% and 55.6% were reached when classifying movements from the testing and validation datasets, respectively, which increased to 86% and 74.6% when adjusting for imbalances between classification groups. The highest misclassification rates occurred between flatfoot squatting, heels-up squatting, and stooping, while the model was incapable of identifying sequences of walking based on a single stride template. The developed mDTW model proved robust in identifying high-flexion postures performed by participants both included and precluded from algorithm development, indicating its strong potential for the quantitative measurement of postural adoption in real-world settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue IMU and Innovative Sensors for Healthcare)
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24 pages, 2941 KB  
Article
The Impact of Postures and Moving Directions in Fire Evacuation in a Low-Visibility Environment
by Jingjing Yan, Gengen He, Anahid Basiri, Craig Hancock and Siegfried K. Yeboah
Sensors 2024, 24(5), 1378; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24051378 - 21 Feb 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2224
Abstract
Walking speed is a significant aspect of evacuation efficiency, and this speed varies during fire emergencies due to individual physical abilities. However, in evacuations, it is not always possible to keep an upright posture, hence atypical postures, such as stoop walking or crawling, [...] Read more.
Walking speed is a significant aspect of evacuation efficiency, and this speed varies during fire emergencies due to individual physical abilities. However, in evacuations, it is not always possible to keep an upright posture, hence atypical postures, such as stoop walking or crawling, may be required for survival. In this study, a novel 3D passive vision-aided inertial system (3D PVINS) for indoor positioning was used to track the movement of 20 volunteers during an evacuation in a low visibility environment. Participants’ walking speeds using trunk flexion, trunk–knee flexion, and upright postures were measured. The investigations were carried out under emergency and non-emergency scenarios in vertical and horizontal directions, respectively. Results show that different moving directions led to a roughly 43.90% speed reduction, while posture accounted for over 17%. Gender, one of the key categories in evacuation models, accounted for less than 10% of the differences in speed. The speeds of participants under emergency scenarios when compared to non-emergency scenarios was also found to increase by 53.92–60% when moving in the horizontal direction, and by about 48.28–50% when moving in the vertical direction and descending downstairs. Our results also support the social force theory of the warming-up period, as well as the effect of panic on the facilitating occupants’ moving speed. Full article
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40 pages, 3234 KB  
Article
AOBLMOA: A Hybrid Biomimetic Optimization Algorithm for Numerical Optimization and Engineering Design Problems
by Yanpu Zhao, Changsheng Huang, Mengjie Zhang and Yang Cui
Biomimetics 2023, 8(4), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics8040381 - 21 Aug 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2240
Abstract
The Mayfly Optimization Algorithm (MOA), as a new biomimetic metaheuristic algorithm with superior algorithm framework and optimization methods, plays a remarkable role in solving optimization problems. However, there are still shortcomings of convergence speed and local optimization in this algorithm. This paper proposes [...] Read more.
The Mayfly Optimization Algorithm (MOA), as a new biomimetic metaheuristic algorithm with superior algorithm framework and optimization methods, plays a remarkable role in solving optimization problems. However, there are still shortcomings of convergence speed and local optimization in this algorithm. This paper proposes a metaheuristic algorithm for continuous and constrained global optimization problems, which combines the MOA, the Aquila Optimizer (AO), and the opposition-based learning (OBL) strategy, called AOBLMOA, to overcome the shortcomings of the MOA. The proposed algorithm first fuses the high soar with vertical stoop method and the low flight with slow descent attack method in the AO into the position movement process of the male mayfly population in the MOA. Then, it incorporates the contour flight with short glide attack and the walk and grab prey methods in the AO into the positional movement of female mayfly populations in the MOA. Finally, it replaces the gene mutation behavior of offspring mayfly populations in the MOA with the OBL strategy. To verify the optimization ability of the new algorithm, we conduct three sets of experiments. In the first experiment, we apply AOBLMOA to 19 benchmark functions to test whether it is the optimal strategy among multiple combined strategies. In the second experiment, we test AOBLMOA by using 30 CEC2017 numerical optimization problems and compare it with state-of-the-art metaheuristic algorithms. In the third experiment, 10 CEC2020 real-world constrained optimization problems are used to demonstrate the applicability of AOBLMOA to engineering design problems. The experimental results show that the proposed AOBLMOA is effective and superior and is feasible in numerical optimization problems and engineering design problems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nature-Inspired Computer Algorithms: 2nd Edition)
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9 pages, 2459 KB  
Article
Walking with a Mobile Phone: A Randomised Controlled Trial of Effects on Mood
by Randi Collin and Elizabeth Broadbent
Psych 2023, 5(3), 715-723; https://doi.org/10.3390/psych5030046 - 14 Jul 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 6848
Abstract
It is now common to see pedestrians looking at their mobile phones while they are walking. Looking at a mobile phone can cause stooped posture, slower gait, and lack of attention to surroundings. Because these walking characteristics have been associated with negative affect, [...] Read more.
It is now common to see pedestrians looking at their mobile phones while they are walking. Looking at a mobile phone can cause stooped posture, slower gait, and lack of attention to surroundings. Because these walking characteristics have been associated with negative affect, walking while looking at a mobile phone may have negative effects on mood. This study aimed to investigate whether walking while looking at a mobile phone had psychological effects. One hundred and twenty-five adults were randomised to walk in a park either with or without reading text on a mobile phone. Participants wore a fitness tracker to record pace and heart rate, and posture was calculated from video. Self-reported mood, affect, feelings of power, comfort, and connectedness with nature were assessed. The phone group walked significantly slower, with a more stooped posture, slower heart rate, and felt less comfortable than the phone-free group. The phone group experienced significant decreases in positive mood, affect, power, and connectedness with nature, as well as increases in negative mood, whereas the phone-free group experienced the opposite. There was no significant mediation effect of posture on mood; however, feeling connected with nature significantly mediated the effects of phone walking on mood. In conclusion, individuals experience better wellbeing when they pay attention to the environment rather than their phone while walking. More research is needed to investigate the effects of performing other activities on a mobile phone on mood while walking and in other settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Psych)
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9 pages, 252 KB  
Article
Can We Predict Imbalance in Patients? Analysis of the CDC National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
by Bassel G. Diebo, Sarah G. Stroud, Neil V. Shah, James Messina, James M. Hong, Daniel Alsoof, Kashif Ansari, Renaud Lafage, Peter G. Passias, Virginie Lafage, Frank J. Schwab, Carl B. Paulino, Roy Aaron and Alan H. Daniels
J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(5), 1943; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12051943 - 1 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2212
Abstract
Understanding global body balance can optimize the postoperative course for patients undergoing spinal or lower limb surgical realignment. This observational cohort study aimed to characterize patients with reported imbalance and identify predictors. The CDC establishes a representative sample annually via the NHANES. All [...] Read more.
Understanding global body balance can optimize the postoperative course for patients undergoing spinal or lower limb surgical realignment. This observational cohort study aimed to characterize patients with reported imbalance and identify predictors. The CDC establishes a representative sample annually via the NHANES. All participants who said “yes” (Imbalanced) or “no” (Balanced) to the following question were identified from 1999–2004: “During the past 12 months, have you had dizziness, difficulty with balance or difficulty with falling?” Univariate analyses compared Imbalanced versus Balanced subjects and binary logistic regression modeling predicted for Imbalance. Of 9964 patients, imbalanced (26.5%) were older (65.4 vs. 60.6 years), with more females (60% vs. 48%). Imbalanced subjects reported higher rates of comorbidities, including osteoporosis (14.4% vs. 6.6%), arthritis (51.6% vs. 31.9%), and low back pain (54.4% vs 32.7%). Imbalanced patients had more difficulty with activities, including climbing 10 steps (43.8% vs. 21%) and stooping/crouching/kneeling (74.3% vs. 44.7%), and they needed greater time to walk 20 feet (9.5 vs. 7.1 s). Imbalanced subjects had significantly lower caloric and dietary intake. Regression revealed that difficulties using fingers to grasp small objects (OR: 1.73), female gender (OR: 1.43), difficulties with prolonged standing (OR: 1.29), difficulties stooping/crouching/kneeling (OR: 1.28), and increased time to walk 20 feet (OR: 1.06) were independent predictors of Imbalance (all p < 0.05). Imbalanced patients were found to have identifiable comorbidities and were detectable using simple functional assessments. Structured tests that assess dynamic functional status may be useful for preoperative optimization and risk-stratification for patients undergoing spinal or lower limb surgical realignment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spinal Disorders: Current Treatment and Future Opportunities: Part II)
15 pages, 2593 KB  
Article
The Associations between Evacuation Movements and Children’s Physiological Demands Analyzed via Wearable-Based Sensors
by Bo Zhang, Xiaoyu Gao, Jiaxu Zhou and Xiaohu Jia
Sensors 2022, 22(21), 8094; https://doi.org/10.3390/s22218094 - 22 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2238
Abstract
During fire evacuations, crawling is recommended to prevent harm from toxic smoke and to access more breathable air. Few studies have evaluated the physiological burden of crawling, especially for children. The method of using wearable sensors to collect data (e.g., electrodermal activity, EDA; [...] Read more.
During fire evacuations, crawling is recommended to prevent harm from toxic smoke and to access more breathable air. Few studies have evaluated the physiological burden of crawling, especially for children. The method of using wearable sensors to collect data (e.g., electrodermal activity, EDA; skin temperature, SKT) was used to evaluate the effects of different locomotive postures on children’s velocity and physiological demands. Twenty-eight (28) children (13 boys and 15 girls), aged 4 to 6 years old, traveled up to 22.0 m in different postures: Upright walking (UW), stoop walking (SW), knee and hand crawling (KHC). The results showed that: (1) Gender and age had significant impacts on children’s velocity (p < 0.05): Boys were always faster than girls in any of the three postures and the older the child, the faster the velocity for KHC. (2) Physiological results demonstrated that KHC was more physically demanding than bipedal walking, represented by higher scores of the EDA and SKT indicators, similar to the findings of adults. (3) Gender and age had significant impacts on children’s physiological demands (p < 0.05). The physiological demands were greater for boys than girls. In addition, the higher the age, the less physiological demands he/she needs. Overall, the findings suggest that children are unnecessarily required to choose crawling precisely as adults as the best posture to respond to emergency scenarios. In a severe fire, stoop walking is suggested, as there is more respired air and children could move quickly and avoid overworking physiological burdens. The results of this study are expected to be considered in the evaluation of current evacuation recommendations and for the safety guide of preparedness to improve the effectiveness of risk reduction for children. Full article
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20 pages, 13504 KB  
Article
Empirical Study on Human Movement Classification Using Insole Footwear Sensor System and Machine Learning
by Wolfe Anderson, Zachary Choffin, Nathan Jeong, Michael Callihan, Seongcheol Jeong and Edward Sazonov
Sensors 2022, 22(7), 2743; https://doi.org/10.3390/s22072743 - 2 Apr 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4664
Abstract
This paper presents a plantar pressure sensor system (P2S2) integrated in the insoles of shoes to detect thirteen commonly used human movements including walking, stooping left and right, pulling a cart backward, squatting, descending, ascending stairs, running, and falling (front, back, right, left). [...] Read more.
This paper presents a plantar pressure sensor system (P2S2) integrated in the insoles of shoes to detect thirteen commonly used human movements including walking, stooping left and right, pulling a cart backward, squatting, descending, ascending stairs, running, and falling (front, back, right, left). Six force sensitive resistors (FSR) sensors were positioned on critical pressure points on the insoles to capture the electrical signature of pressure change in the various movements. A total of 34 adult participants were tested with the P2S2. The pressure data were collected and processed using a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for input to the multiple machine learning (ML) algorithms, including k-NN, neural network and Support-Vector Machine (SVM) algorithms. The ML models were trained using four-fold cross-validation. Each fold kept subject data independent from other folds. The model proved effective with an accuracy of 86%, showing a promising result in predicting human movements using the P2S2 integrated in shoes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Wearables)
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16 pages, 3198 KB  
Article
An Ergonomic Assessment of Different Postures and Children Risk during Evacuations
by Xiaohu Jia, Bo Zhang, Xiaoyu Gao and Jiaxu Zhou
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(22), 12029; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182212029 - 16 Nov 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3192
Abstract
Crawling is recommended for avoiding high heat and toxic fumes and for obtaining more breathable air during evacuations. Few studies have evaluated the effects of crawling on physical joints and velocity, especially in children. Based on motion capture technology, this study proposes a [...] Read more.
Crawling is recommended for avoiding high heat and toxic fumes and for obtaining more breathable air during evacuations. Few studies have evaluated the effects of crawling on physical joints and velocity, especially in children. Based on motion capture technology, this study proposes a novel method of using wearable sensors to collect exposure (e.g., mean duration, frequency) on children’s joints to objectively quantify the impacts of different locomotion methods on physical characteristics. An on-site experiment was conducted in a kindergarten with 28 children (13 boys and 15 girls) of different ages (4–6 years old) who traveled up to 22 m in three different postures: upright walking (UW), stoop walking (SW), and knee and hand crawling (KHC). The results showed that: (1) The level of joint fatigue for KHC was heavier than bipedal walking (p < 0.05), which was evidenced by higher mean duration and frequency. There was no significant difference between UW and SW (p > 0.05). (2) The physical characteristics of the children in the different postures observed in this study were different (p < 0.05). The ankle was more fatigued than other joints during bipedal walking. Unlike infants, the wrists and hips of the children became fatigued while crawling. The key actions flexion/extension are more likely to induce joint fatigue vs. other actions. (3) Crawling velocity was significantly slower than the bipedal velocities, and UW was 10.6% faster than SW (p < 0.05). The bipedal walking velocity started to decrease after the children had travelled up to 13 m, while the KHC velocity started to decrease after traveling up to 11.6 m. (4) In a severe fire, the adoption of SW is suggested, as the evacuees can both evacuate quickly and avoid overworking their joints. (5) There were no significant differences in the age (p > 0.05) and gender (p > 0.05) of the children on the joints in any of the three postures. To conclude, KHC causes more damage to body joints compared to bipedal walking, as evidenced by higher exposure (mean duration, frequency), whereas UW and SW are similar in terms of the level of joint fatigue. The above findings are expected to provide a useful reference for future applications in the children’s risk assessment and in the prevention design of buildings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Feature Papers in Public Health Statistics and Risk Assessment)
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11 pages, 574 KB  
Article
Association of Self-Reported Functional Limitations among a National Community-Based Sample of Older United States Adults with Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study
by David R. Axon and Darlena Le
J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10(9), 1836; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10091836 - 23 Apr 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3065
Abstract
The characteristics of self-reported functional limitations among older United States (US) adults with pain are currently unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the characteristics associated with functional limitations among non-institutionalized older (≥50 years) US adults with pain using 2017 Medical Expenditure Panel [...] Read more.
The characteristics of self-reported functional limitations among older United States (US) adults with pain are currently unknown. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the characteristics associated with functional limitations among non-institutionalized older (≥50 years) US adults with pain using 2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data. Eligible subjects were alive for the calendar year, aged ≥50 years, and experienced pain within the past four weeks. Hierarchical logistic regression models were utilized to determine significant characteristics associated with functional limitations (outcome variable; yes, no). Functional limitations included difficulty with bending, stooping, climbing stairs, grasping objects, lifting, reaching overhead, standing for long periods of time, or walking. Extrapolation of national data values was possible by adjusting for the complex MEPS design. We found approximately 22 million of the 57 million older US adults (≥50 years) who reported pain had a functional limitation in 2017. Characteristics associated with functional limitations included: gender, race, ethnicity, employment status, marital status, pain intensity, physical health, number of chronic conditions, and frequent exercise status. Knowledge of characteristics associated with functional limitations may provide an opportunity to identify and resolve gaps in patient care among this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Epidemiology & Public Health)
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12 pages, 1143 KB  
Article
Measurement and Correction of Stooped Posture during Gait Using Wearable Sensors in Patients with Parkinsonism: A Preliminary Study
by Se Hoon Kim, Seo Jung Yun, Quoc Khanh Dang, Youngjoon Chee, Sun Gun Chung, Byung-Mo Oh, Keewon Kim and Han Gil Seo
Sensors 2021, 21(7), 2379; https://doi.org/10.3390/s21072379 - 30 Mar 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5233
Abstract
Stooped posture, which is usually aggravated during walking, is one of the typical postural deformities in patients with parkinsonism. However, the degree of stooped posture is difficult to quantitatively measure during walking. Furthermore, continuous feedback on posture is also difficult to provide. The [...] Read more.
Stooped posture, which is usually aggravated during walking, is one of the typical postural deformities in patients with parkinsonism. However, the degree of stooped posture is difficult to quantitatively measure during walking. Furthermore, continuous feedback on posture is also difficult to provide. The purpose of this study is to measure the degree of stooped posture during gait and to investigate whether vibration feedback from sensor modules can improve a patient’s posture. Parkinsonian patients with stooped posture were recruited for this study. Two wearable sensors with three-axis accelerometers were attached, one at the upper neck and the other just below the C7 spinous process of the patients. After being calibrated in the most upright posture, the sensors continuously recorded the sagittal angles at 20 Hz and averaged the data at every second during a 6 min walk test. In the control session, the patients walked with the sensors as usual. In the vibration session, sensory feedback was provided through vibrations from the neck sensor module when the sagittal angle exceeded a programmable threshold value. Data were collected and analyzed successfully in a total of 10 patients. The neck flexion and back flexion were slightly aggravated during gait, although the average change was <10° in most patients in both measurement sessions. Therefore, it was difficult to evaluate the effect of sensory feedback through vibration. However, some patients showed immediate response to the feedback and corrected their posture during gait. In conclusion, this preliminary study suggests that stooped posture could be quantitatively measured during gait by using wearable sensors in patients with parkinsonism. Sensory feedback through vibration from sensor modules may help in correcting posture during gait in selected patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wearable Sensor for Healthcare and Environment Monitoring)
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