Abstract
AbstractBackgroundMeasuring arm and hand function in the community is a critical unmet need of rehabilitation after cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). This information could provide clinicians and researchers with insight into an individual’s independence and reliance on care. Current techniques for monitoring upper limb function at home, including self-report and accelerometry, lack the necessary resolution to capture the performance of the hand in activities of daily living (ADLs). On the other hand, a wearable (egocentric) camera provides detailed video information about the hand and its interactions with the environment. Egocentric recordings at home have the potential to provide unbiased information captured directly in the user’s own living environment.PurposeTo explore the feasibility of capturing egocentric video recordings in the home of individuals with SCI for hand function evaluation.Study DesignFeasibility studyMethodsThree participants with SCI recorded ADLs at home without the presence of a researcher. Information regarding recording characteristics and compliance was obtained as well as structured and semi-structured interviews involving privacy, usefulness and usability. A video processing algorithm capable of detecting interactions between the hand and objects was applied to the home recordings.Results98.58±1.05 % of the obtained footage was usable and included 4 to 8 unique activities over a span of 3 to 7 days. The interaction detection algorithm yielded an F1-score of 0.75±0.15.ConclusionCapturing ADLs using an egocentric camera in the home environment after SCI is feasible. Considerations regarding privacy, ease of use of the devices and scheduling of recordings are provided.
Publisher
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory