The importance of trunk motion in wearable based infant spontaneous movement analysis
Abstract The characteristics of spontaneous movements in infants are essential for the early detection of neurological pathologies, with the Prechtl method being a widely recognized approach. While the Prechtl method is effective in predicting motor risks, its reliance on the evaluator’s expertise l...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85621-y |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841544816555458560 |
|---|---|
| author | María Marín-Palma Ignacia Rojas-Sepulveda Jessica Becerra-Caroca José Carrasco-Plaza Ramiro Zepeda Pablo Ignacio Burgos |
| author_facet | María Marín-Palma Ignacia Rojas-Sepulveda Jessica Becerra-Caroca José Carrasco-Plaza Ramiro Zepeda Pablo Ignacio Burgos |
| author_sort | María Marín-Palma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The characteristics of spontaneous movements in infants are essential for the early detection of neurological pathologies, with the Prechtl method being a widely recognized approach. While the Prechtl method is effective in predicting motor risks, its reliance on the evaluator’s expertise limits its scalability, particularly in low-income areas. In such contexts, the use of inertial sensors combined with automated analysis presents a promising accessible alternative; however, more research is necessary to get results comparable to those of the Precht method. This research aims to determine the more important metrics of trunk and limbs to assess spontaneous movement in healthy infants during the first semester of life as the basis of a sensor-based alternative. It was a cross-sectional study with 116 separate subjects divided into 3 groups: 0 M Group (N = 43), 3 M Group (N = 44), and 6 M (N = 29). Participants’ movements were recorded using 6 wireless inertial sensors (4 limbs, thorax, and pelvis). Parameters from the acceleration signal were estimated in relation to velocity, cross-correlation, kurtosis, skewness, area, and periodicity. The different stages (0 M,3 M, and 6 M) have different profiles of accelerometric parameters. Trunk and limb parameters can differentiate between 0 of 3 months (13/25 trunk and 17/36 limb parameters) and between 0 and 6 months (10/25 trunk and 20/36 limb). Mainly, trunk parameters can differentiate between 3 and 6 months (9/25 trunk vs. 3/36 limb). Additionally, only 2 trunk parameters (kurtosis and periodicity) can differentiate the 3 stages. Wearable devices can effectively detect significant differences in spontaneous movements during the first six months of life, particularly trunk-related data. The extremities could be insufficient to distinguish movements between 3 and 6 months. On the other hand, two key parameters—kurtosis of thorax velocity and periodicity of trunk velocity—successfully differentiate between the three age groups analyzed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5bb162b33a1d430ea697a4f46d529e0d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-5bb162b33a1d430ea697a4f46d529e0d2025-01-12T12:16:12ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-85621-yThe importance of trunk motion in wearable based infant spontaneous movement analysisMaría Marín-Palma0Ignacia Rojas-Sepulveda1Jessica Becerra-Caroca2José Carrasco-Plaza3Ramiro Zepeda4Pablo Ignacio Burgos5Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de ChileDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de ChileNeurorehabilitation and Motor Control Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de ChileNeurorehabilitation and Motor Control Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de ChileNeurorehabilitation and Motor Control Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de ChileDepartment of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de ChileAbstract The characteristics of spontaneous movements in infants are essential for the early detection of neurological pathologies, with the Prechtl method being a widely recognized approach. While the Prechtl method is effective in predicting motor risks, its reliance on the evaluator’s expertise limits its scalability, particularly in low-income areas. In such contexts, the use of inertial sensors combined with automated analysis presents a promising accessible alternative; however, more research is necessary to get results comparable to those of the Precht method. This research aims to determine the more important metrics of trunk and limbs to assess spontaneous movement in healthy infants during the first semester of life as the basis of a sensor-based alternative. It was a cross-sectional study with 116 separate subjects divided into 3 groups: 0 M Group (N = 43), 3 M Group (N = 44), and 6 M (N = 29). Participants’ movements were recorded using 6 wireless inertial sensors (4 limbs, thorax, and pelvis). Parameters from the acceleration signal were estimated in relation to velocity, cross-correlation, kurtosis, skewness, area, and periodicity. The different stages (0 M,3 M, and 6 M) have different profiles of accelerometric parameters. Trunk and limb parameters can differentiate between 0 of 3 months (13/25 trunk and 17/36 limb parameters) and between 0 and 6 months (10/25 trunk and 20/36 limb). Mainly, trunk parameters can differentiate between 3 and 6 months (9/25 trunk vs. 3/36 limb). Additionally, only 2 trunk parameters (kurtosis and periodicity) can differentiate the 3 stages. Wearable devices can effectively detect significant differences in spontaneous movements during the first six months of life, particularly trunk-related data. The extremities could be insufficient to distinguish movements between 3 and 6 months. On the other hand, two key parameters—kurtosis of thorax velocity and periodicity of trunk velocity—successfully differentiate between the three age groups analyzed.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85621-yAccelerometryInfantsPrechtl methodGeneral movementsMotor development |
| spellingShingle | María Marín-Palma Ignacia Rojas-Sepulveda Jessica Becerra-Caroca José Carrasco-Plaza Ramiro Zepeda Pablo Ignacio Burgos The importance of trunk motion in wearable based infant spontaneous movement analysis Scientific Reports Accelerometry Infants Prechtl method General movements Motor development |
| title | The importance of trunk motion in wearable based infant spontaneous movement analysis |
| title_full | The importance of trunk motion in wearable based infant spontaneous movement analysis |
| title_fullStr | The importance of trunk motion in wearable based infant spontaneous movement analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | The importance of trunk motion in wearable based infant spontaneous movement analysis |
| title_short | The importance of trunk motion in wearable based infant spontaneous movement analysis |
| title_sort | importance of trunk motion in wearable based infant spontaneous movement analysis |
| topic | Accelerometry Infants Prechtl method General movements Motor development |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-85621-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mariamarinpalma theimportanceoftrunkmotioninwearablebasedinfantspontaneousmovementanalysis AT ignaciarojassepulveda theimportanceoftrunkmotioninwearablebasedinfantspontaneousmovementanalysis AT jessicabecerracaroca theimportanceoftrunkmotioninwearablebasedinfantspontaneousmovementanalysis AT josecarrascoplaza theimportanceoftrunkmotioninwearablebasedinfantspontaneousmovementanalysis AT ramirozepeda theimportanceoftrunkmotioninwearablebasedinfantspontaneousmovementanalysis AT pabloignacioburgos theimportanceoftrunkmotioninwearablebasedinfantspontaneousmovementanalysis AT mariamarinpalma importanceoftrunkmotioninwearablebasedinfantspontaneousmovementanalysis AT ignaciarojassepulveda importanceoftrunkmotioninwearablebasedinfantspontaneousmovementanalysis AT jessicabecerracaroca importanceoftrunkmotioninwearablebasedinfantspontaneousmovementanalysis AT josecarrascoplaza importanceoftrunkmotioninwearablebasedinfantspontaneousmovementanalysis AT ramirozepeda importanceoftrunkmotioninwearablebasedinfantspontaneousmovementanalysis AT pabloignacioburgos importanceoftrunkmotioninwearablebasedinfantspontaneousmovementanalysis |