Wearable Inertial Measurement Units for Gait Assessment in Children with Cerebral Palsy: Current Applications, Measurement Properties, and Clinical Perspectives

Qing  Shi; Lei Huang

doi:10.62177/apjcmr.v2i5.1720

Authors

Qing Shi The Fourth People’s Hospital of Kunshan
Lei Huang The Fourth People’s Hospital of Kunshan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62177/apjcmr.v2i5.1720

Keywords:

Cerebral Palsy, Children, Gait Analysis, Inertial Measurement Unit, Wearable Sensors, Rehabilitation

Abstract

Cerebral palsy (CP) comprises a heterogeneous group of permanent disorders of movement and posture. In ambulant children, gait may be affected by impaired selective motor control, weakness, altered muscle tone, and secondary musculoskeletal changes. Three-dimensional gait analysis remains the most comprehensive approach to instrumented assessment, but its cost, space requirements, and dependence on specialized personnel restrict routine and repeated use. Wearable inertial measurement units (IMUs) provide segmental acceleration and angular-velocity signals from which spatiotemporal, kinematic, symmetry, variability, and stability measures can be derived. This narrative review summarizes the principles, sensor configurations, gait outcomes, measurement properties, and clinical applications of IMUs in children with CP. Current evidence is strongest for spatiotemporal measures obtained from foot- or lower-limb-mounted sensors and for trunk-based measures of gait rhythm and postural control. Multisensor systems can provide additional segmental information, although accuracy depends on sensor placement, calibration, gait pattern, walking aid use, and the algorithm used to identify gait events. Laboratory and daily-life measurements should not be treated as interchangeable because they represent different aspects of walking capacity and performance. IMUs are therefore best considered a complement to clinical examination and three-dimensional gait analysis rather than a direct replacement. Future work should prioritize pediatric-specific validation, transparent algorithms, standardized reporting, and clinically interpretable thresholds across age groups and Gross Motor Function Classification System levels.

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