Measuring functional hand use in children with unilateral cerebral palsy using accelerometry and machine learning

Abstract

Abstract Aim To investigate wearable sensors for measuring functional hand use in children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). Method Dual wrist‐worn accelerometry data were collected from three females and seven males with unilateral CP (mean age = 10 years 2 months [SD 3 years]) while performing hand tasks during video‐recorded play sessions. Video observers labelled instances of functional and non‐functional hand use. Machine learning was compared to the conventional activity count approach for identifying unilateral hand movements as functional or non‐functional. Correlation and agreement analyses compared the functional usage metrics derived from each method. Results The best‐performing machine learning approach had high precision and recall when trained on an individual basis (F 1 = 0.896 [SD 0.043]). On an individual basis, the best‐performing classifier showed a significant correlation ( r = 0.990, p < 0.001) and strong agreement (bias = 0.57%, 95% confidence interval = −4.98 to 6.13) with video observations. When validated in a leave‐one‐subject‐out scenario, performance decreased significantly (F 1 = 0.584 [SD 0.076]). The activity count approach failed to detect significant differences in non‐functional or functional hand activity and showed no significant correlation or agreement with the video observations. Interpretation With further development, wearable accelerometry combined with machine learning may enable quantitative monitoring of everyday functional hand use in children with unilateral CP. What this paper adds Wearable (wrist‐worn) accelerometry with machine learning shows potential for measuring functional hand use in children with unilateral cerebral palsy. Traditional activity count accelerometry cannot distinguish functional from non‐functional hand use.

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