Wearable Sensors in Ambulatory Individuals With a Spinal Cord Injury: From Energy Expenditure Estimation to Activity Recommendations

This study addresses the challenge of promoting physical activity in individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI) who are able to walk. Commercial activity trackers are not designed for reliable assessments in individuals with an incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). The study aimed to develop an energy expenditure (EE) estimation model based on wearable sensor data for iSCI individuals. Additionally, common activity recommendations for the non-disabled population were translated to easily understandable activity goals. The study suggests a minimum of 2,000–3,000 steps per day for ambulatory individuals with an iSCI. If iSCI individuals targeted the 10,000 steps a day recommendation, their equivalent would be around 8,000 steps a day.

• 1
  The best EE estimation model comprised the estimation of resting EE using the updated Harris-Benedict equation, classifying activities using a k-nearest neighbor algorithm, and applying a multiple linear regression-based EE estimation model for each activity class.
• 2
  The mean absolute estimation error of this model was 15.2 ± 6.3% and the corresponding mean signed error was −3.4 ± 8.9%.
• 3
  Translating activity recommendations of global health institutions, we suggest a minimum of 2,000–3,000 steps per day for ambulatory individuals with an iSCI.