Measuring lumbar back motion during functional activities using a portable strain gauge sensor-based system: A comparative evaluation and reliability study

Quantifying lumbar back motion during functional activities in real-life environments may contribute to a better understanding of common pathologies such as spinal disorders. The current study therefore aimed at the comparative evaluation of the Epionics SPINE system, a portable device for measuring sagittal lumbar back motion during functional activities. Twenty healthy participants were therefore evaluated with the Epionics SPINE and a Vicon motion capture system in two identical separate research visits. They performed the following activities: standing, sitting, chair rising, box lifting, walking, running and a counter movement jump (CMJ). Lumbar lordosis angles were extracted as continuous values as well as average and range of motion (ROM) parameters. Agreement between the systems was evaluated using Bland-Altman analyses, whereas within- and between-session reliability were assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and minimal detectable changes (MDC). The analysis showed excellent agreement between the systems for chair rising, box lifting and CMJ with a systematic underestimation of lumbar lordosis angles during walking and running. Reliability was moderate to high for all continuous and discrete parameters (ICC ≥ 0.62), except for ROM during running (ICC = 0.29). MDC values were generally below 15°, except for CMJ (peak values up to 20° within and 25° between the sessions). The Epionics SPINE system performed similarly to a Vicon motion capture system for measuring lumbar lordosis angles during functional activities and showed high consistency within and between measurement sessions. These findings can serve researchers and clinicians as a bench mark for future investigations using the system in populations with spinal pathologies.