Cervical myelopathy screening using in-shoe inertial measurement unit sensors and machine learning focusing…

AI / informaticsEuropean spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society· Mar 2026

Cervical myelopathy screening using in-shoe inertial measurement unit sensors and machine learning focusing on gait disturbance.

Kazuya Tsukamoto, Koji Fujita, Fumiyuki Nihey … Toshitaka Yoshii

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Assistive Technology & WearablesAI / informaticsDiagnosisQ1IF 3.2

Machine learning classified cervical myelopathy from gait sensor data with high accuracy

Cervical myelopathy screening using in-shoe inertial measurement unit sensors and machine learning focusing on gait disturbance.

Kazuya Tsukamoto … Toshitaka Yoshii

European spine journal · Mar 2026

Background

Cervical myelopathy (cervical myelopathy) often presents with gait disturbances, which can lead to falls and spinal cord injury.

Purpose

This study aimed to perform gait analysis in patients with cervical myelopathy using wearable in-shoe inertial measurement unit (inertial measurement unit) sensors and to develop a screening system using machine learning.

Methods

This study included 26 patients with cervical myelopathy and 26 age-matched healthy controls.

n = 26 patients

Results

AUC 1.0 is perfect; 0.89 shows strong ability to distinguish myelopathy from healthy gait

81%

Sensitivity

85%

Specificity

More results

Patients with cervical myelopathy exhibited significantly lower gait speed, stride length, dorsiflexion angle, plantarflexion angle, and foot height, along with increased stance time and stance phase.

CVs of gait parameters were higher in patients with cervical myelopathy, with an increased stance phase observed from the early stages.

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

Wearable inertial measurement unit sensors effectively captured gait disturbances in cervical myelopathy patients, and machine learning enabled accurate classification.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

This method enables daily gait monitoring and could facilitate early detection and intervention for cervical myelopathy.

Cervical myelopathy screening using in-shoe inertial measurement unit sensors and machine learning focusing on gait disturbance.

Cervical myelopathy screening using in-shoe inertial measurement unit sensors and machine learning focusing on gait disturbance.

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