Accuracy and Precision of a Novel Photogate System to Measure Toe Clearance on Stairs
<b>Background:</b> Toe clearance on stairs is typically measured using optoelectronic systems, though these are often constrained to the laboratory, due to their complex setups. Here we measured stair toe clearance through a novel prototype photogate setup and compared this to optoelectr...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/5/2429 |
| _version_ | 1797614350702215168 |
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| author | Timmion K. Skervin Neil M. Thomas Andrew J. Schofield Mark A. Hollands Constantinos N. Maganaris Thomas D. O’Brien Vasilios Baltzopoulos Richard J. Foster |
| author_facet | Timmion K. Skervin Neil M. Thomas Andrew J. Schofield Mark A. Hollands Constantinos N. Maganaris Thomas D. O’Brien Vasilios Baltzopoulos Richard J. Foster |
| author_sort | Timmion K. Skervin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> Toe clearance on stairs is typically measured using optoelectronic systems, though these are often constrained to the laboratory, due to their complex setups. Here we measured stair toe clearance through a novel prototype photogate setup and compared this to optoelectronic measurements. <b>Methods:</b> Twelve participants (age 22 ± 3 years) completed 25 stair ascent trials, each on a seven-step staircase. Toe clearance over the fifth step edge was measured using Vicon and the photogates. Twenty-two photogates were created in rows through laser diodes and phototransistors. The height of the lowest photogate broken at step-edge crossing was used to determine photogate toe clearance. A limits of agreement analysis and Pearson’s correlation coefficient compared the accuracy, precision and relationship between systems. <b>Results:</b> We found a mean difference of −1.5 mm (accuracy) between the two measurement systems, with upper and lower limits (precision) of 10.7 mm and −13.8 mm, respectively. A strong positive correlation was also found (<i>r</i> = 70, <i>n</i> = 12, <i>p</i> = 0.009) between the systems. <b>Discussion:</b> The results suggest that photogates could be an option for measuring real-world stair toe clearances, where optoelectronic systems are not routinely used. Improvements to the design and measurement factors may help to improve the precision of the photogates. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:11:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-27b66522264b43b0bb670af539dc1f8f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T07:11:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-27b66522264b43b0bb670af539dc1f8f2023-11-17T08:34:38ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202023-02-01235242910.3390/s23052429Accuracy and Precision of a Novel Photogate System to Measure Toe Clearance on StairsTimmion K. Skervin0Neil M. Thomas1Andrew J. Schofield2Mark A. Hollands3Constantinos N. Maganaris4Thomas D. O’Brien5Vasilios Baltzopoulos6Richard J. Foster7Research to Improve Stair Climbing Safety (RISCS), Faculty of Science, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UKResearch to Improve Stair Climbing Safety (RISCS), Faculty of Science, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UKSchool of Psychology & Aston Research Centre for Healthy Ageing, College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham B4 7ET, UKResearch to Improve Stair Climbing Safety (RISCS), Faculty of Science, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UKResearch to Improve Stair Climbing Safety (RISCS), Faculty of Science, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UKResearch to Improve Stair Climbing Safety (RISCS), Faculty of Science, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UKResearch to Improve Stair Climbing Safety (RISCS), Faculty of Science, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UKResearch to Improve Stair Climbing Safety (RISCS), Faculty of Science, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK<b>Background:</b> Toe clearance on stairs is typically measured using optoelectronic systems, though these are often constrained to the laboratory, due to their complex setups. Here we measured stair toe clearance through a novel prototype photogate setup and compared this to optoelectronic measurements. <b>Methods:</b> Twelve participants (age 22 ± 3 years) completed 25 stair ascent trials, each on a seven-step staircase. Toe clearance over the fifth step edge was measured using Vicon and the photogates. Twenty-two photogates were created in rows through laser diodes and phototransistors. The height of the lowest photogate broken at step-edge crossing was used to determine photogate toe clearance. A limits of agreement analysis and Pearson’s correlation coefficient compared the accuracy, precision and relationship between systems. <b>Results:</b> We found a mean difference of −1.5 mm (accuracy) between the two measurement systems, with upper and lower limits (precision) of 10.7 mm and −13.8 mm, respectively. A strong positive correlation was also found (<i>r</i> = 70, <i>n</i> = 12, <i>p</i> = 0.009) between the systems. <b>Discussion:</b> The results suggest that photogates could be an option for measuring real-world stair toe clearances, where optoelectronic systems are not routinely used. Improvements to the design and measurement factors may help to improve the precision of the photogates.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/5/2429toe clearancephotogatesstair safetyoptoelectronic |
| spellingShingle | Timmion K. Skervin Neil M. Thomas Andrew J. Schofield Mark A. Hollands Constantinos N. Maganaris Thomas D. O’Brien Vasilios Baltzopoulos Richard J. Foster Accuracy and Precision of a Novel Photogate System to Measure Toe Clearance on Stairs Sensors toe clearance photogates stair safety optoelectronic |
| title | Accuracy and Precision of a Novel Photogate System to Measure Toe Clearance on Stairs |
| title_full | Accuracy and Precision of a Novel Photogate System to Measure Toe Clearance on Stairs |
| title_fullStr | Accuracy and Precision of a Novel Photogate System to Measure Toe Clearance on Stairs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Accuracy and Precision of a Novel Photogate System to Measure Toe Clearance on Stairs |
| title_short | Accuracy and Precision of a Novel Photogate System to Measure Toe Clearance on Stairs |
| title_sort | accuracy and precision of a novel photogate system to measure toe clearance on stairs |
| topic | toe clearance photogates stair safety optoelectronic |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/5/2429 |
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