Discreet movement measurement and cueing system for improvement of safety and efficacy of movement

A method of providing real-time rehabilitation and training or improving quality and safety of a subject's movement comprising steps of:

• providing a portable therapy device to the subject, the therapy device comprising at least two sensors, at least one sensor having a signal related to the subject's balance or stability and at least one sensor for measuring the subject's motion related to the subject's gait, during activities of daily living, a processor comprising an algorithm and an output, and a cueing or stimulus device, the at least one sensor adapted to be attached to or worn on or about the subject's wrist;
• measuring the subject's balance or postural stability with the at least one sensor substantially continuously to acquire movement data while the subject is performing activities of daily living;
• extracting, with the processor, at least one kinematic feature from the measured movement data, the at least one kinematic feature related to the subject's balance or posture;
• analyzing, in real-time, the at least one kinematic feature with the processor and algorithm to predict or detect imbalance or instability of the subject, the prediction or determination being made at least in part based on identification of the kinematic feature of circumduction compensation strategy which is identified at least in part by an abduction angle greater than about 7 degrees;
• transmitting the output of the algorithm to a cueing or stimulus device;
• and
• providing with the cueing or stimulus device a cue or stimulus to the subject based on the prediction or determination in real-time,
• wherein the cue or stimulus is adapted to notify the subject of the prediction or determination and to allow the subject to react accordingly to prevent or correct the predicted or detected imbalance or instability.

A portable therapy system for real-time rehabilitation and training or to improve the quality and safety of a subject's movement comprising:

• at least one sensor adapted to be worn or attached to a portion of the subject's body below the subject's neck and to measure a subject's movement during activities of daily living, the at least one sensor having a signal related to the subject's voluntary or involuntary movement;
• a processor comprising an algorithm, the processor adapted to at least in part extract at least one kinematic feature from measured movement, the at least one kinematic feature related to the subject's balance or posture, the algorithm adapted to, at least in part, analyze, in real-time, the at least one kinematic feature to predict or detect the occurrence of a balance or posture impairment and provide an output corresponding to the prediction or determination, the prediction or determination being at least in part based on identification of the kinematic feature of circumduction compensation strategy which is identified at least in part by an abduction angle greater than about 7 degrees;
• a cueing or stimulus device adapted to receive the output from the algorithm and provide at least one cue or stimulus to the subject based at least in part on the output of the algorithm in real-time,
• wherein the at least one cue or stimulus is adapted to notify the subject wearing the portable therapy system of the prediction or determination and allow the subject to react accordingly to prevent or correct the predicted or detected balance or posture impairment.