Mahidol University

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Statistical Analysis of
Arm Swing Acceleration
Kidthiphat Tejakumpuj 5613344
Tanawat Chansophonkul 5613356
EGBE 221 Biostatistics and Probability
Sanitta Thongpang, Ph.D.
December 2, 2014

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
All the following raw data is obtained by courtesy of Brain Computer Interface Lab (BCI
LAB), department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University.
The data is the acceleration of left and right arm during arms swinging activity.
The original purpose of this data is for the design of indicator for the evaluation of
physical activities of Thai population, and is from 20 individuals.

Procedure of data collecting

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

accelerometers are attached onto left and right arm of each participants
participants make a short jump
wait 1 minute
participants make another short jump, to mark the beginning of experiment
participants swing two arms simultaneously at the rate of 80 rounds per minute,
for 5 minutes

DATA ANALYSIS
Collecting data from accelerometer
- Raw data from accelerometer are 50Hz sampling rate with 4 raw values, but only 3
values were used in calculation. First is acceleration in x-axis, second is y-axis and third is
z-axis. The last value is parameter of the sensor and microcontroller board, so it will not be in
calculation part.

FIGURE 1.0 Show raw data that sensor collected

- Raw data got from sensor can be converted to acceleration by this equation
a=

8Data
212

, then we get acceleration of all 3 axis, so we need to find the magnitude of all 3

axis by Acceleration = 2 + 2 + 2 and we set the first data to t=0.

- Down sampling raw data from 50Hz to 25Hz, because there are too much sampling
data, so we can decrease it and not affect the other value.
- Plot acceleration magnitude and time graph after down sampling to 25Hz rate
FIGURE 1.1 25Hz
Acceleration magnitude
graph

- Range of data, we chose to analyses must be data after peak of second jumped.
FIGURE 1.3 show the range of data

Part A: for sample of 20 participants, we used paired t-Test to compare between left hand and
right hand during arms swinging activity.
First, we need to find the average acceleration of left arm and right arm of all 20 persons.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Left Mean
1.78262127
1.80426381
1.29199741
1.40816527
1.28538543
1.17990263
1.0718183
1.44070667
1.39941927
1.27323761

Right Mean
1.67430792
1.81861165
1.29380022
1.45023765
1.28165206
1.31350524
1.08394056
1.32624339
1.32624339
1.2056224

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20

Left Mean
1.45426766
1.17614552
1.33658717
1.40346997
1.48567865
1.28523985
1.07873725
1.11166273
1.20731677
1.1616863

Right Mean
1.45294457
1.19577979
1.41016745
1.37111704
1.44824648
1.24348382
1.06849553
1.09669438
1.48683908
1.19602786

Normal probability plot

2
1.5
1
0.5
0
1

-0.5

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

-1
-1.5
-2

FIGURE 1.4 show normal probability plot of different of arm swing acceleration which is roughly linear

To perform paired t-Test, these two assumptions need to be satisfied

1.

Simple random paired sample

2.

Normal differences or large sample

For the above set of data, the two assumptions is satisfied, so we can perform hypothesis t-Test
Let 1 denote the mean acceleration of left arm swinging and let 2 denote the mean
acceleration of right arm swinging. Then the null hypotheses are respectively,
H0: 1= 2 (mean acceleration are equal)
Ha: 1 2 (mean acceleration differ); two tailed
We are perform the test at the 5% significance level, so =0.05, and compute the value of the
test statistic by t =

Different of Acceleration (n=20)

0.10831 -0.13360 0.00132 0.04176
-0.01435 -0.01212 -0.01963 0.01024
-0.00180 0.11446 -0.07358 0.01497
-0.04207 0.07318 0.03235 -0.27952
0.00373 0.06762 0.03743 -0.03434

20

= 1

= -0.005282547

2 ( )2 /
1

= 0.08700

Compute t =

0.00528254720

0.087

= -0.271529575

The critical values for a two-tailed test are t/2 with df = n-1,
use t-score table to find critical values.

We have n= 20, =0.05, t/2 = 2.093 and t = -0.2715

FIGURE 1.5 show graph of t and critical value of mean
From http://www.imathas.com/stattools/

The value of statistic is t= -0.2715 which falls in the non-rejection region depleted in FIGURE1.5,
Thus we accept H0. The test results are statistically significant at the 5% level.
Interpretation: At 5% significance level, the data provide sufficient evidence to conclude that
the mean acceleration of left arm swinging equal to acceleration of right arm swinging.

Part B: For a randomly selected participant, again, we used paired t-test to compare the
acceleration of left arm and right arm. (Table I)
The data (Table I) we use to calculate is the maximum acceleration (peak) of arms in each cycle
of swing. We applied cpp language programming using Bloodshed Dev-C++
(http://www.bloodshed.net) to collect local peak from raw data.

FIGURE 1.6 show peak of acceleration in both arm, red is right arm and blue is left arm

To perform paired t-Test, these two assumptions need to be satisfied

1.

Simple random paired sample

2.

Normal differences or large sample

For this set of data, there are 300 pair of data, the two assumptions is satisfied, so we can
perform hypothesis t-Test.
Let 1 denote the peak acceleration of left arm swinging and let 2 denote the peak acceleration
of right arm swinging. Then the null hypotheses are respectively,
H0: 1= 2 (peak acceleration are equal)
Ha: 1 2 (peak acceleration differ); two tailed

We are perform the test at the 5% significance level, so =0.05, and compute the value of the
test statistic t =

= -0.0194

2 ( )2 /
1

= 0.322902245
Compute t =

0.0194300

0.322902245

= -1.040618691

The critical values for a two-tailed test are t/2 with df = n-1, use t-score calculator to find
critical values.
We have n= 300, =0.05, t/2 = 1.968 and t = -1.04

FIGURE 1.7 show graph of t and critical value of peak

From http://www.imathas.com/stattools/

The value of statistic is t= -1.04 which falls in the non-rejection region depleted in FIGURE1.6,
thus we accept H0. The test results are statistically significant at the 5% level.
Interpretation: At 5% significance level, the data provide sufficient evidence to conclude that
the peak acceleration of left arm swinging equal to peak acceleration of right arm swinging.

CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION

a) From part A, the hypothesis t-Test of 20 participants, with 5% significance level, we can
partly conclude that the acceleration of left arm and right arm during arm swinging
activity should be equal.
b) From part B, the hypothesis t-Test of a randomly selected participant, with 5%
significance level, we can conclude that there is no difference between the acceleration
of left arm and right arm during arm swinging activity.

Parkinsons disease
Parkinsons disease is a neurodegenerative of central nervous system, affecting 165 to
180 individuals out of 1 million in the populations annually. The important factor in Parkinsons
disease is age, for 90% of all the case begins after the age of 40.
The sign of Parkinsons disease is vary between each patient including tremor,
Bradykinesia, and rigidity in limbs. Scientists have known for sometimes that the early sign
symptom of Parkinsons disease is reduced in arm swing of one arm.
Currently, there is no 100% cure for Parkinsons disease, but if certain drugs are to be
taken early, the disease symptom can be greatly improved before daily life is ruined, therefore
the early diagnosis important.
To measure arm swing acceleration using small accelerometers can be an effective and
a convenient way for self-monitoring at home, and the data record in measurement can be used
later in rehabilitation if the need arises.

REFERENCES
1) Marion Z. Haase (2011). The Immediate Effects of Rhythmic Arm Swing and Finger Tapping
Exercises on Gait of Parkinsons Patients. 11-13
2) Neil A. Weiss. Inferences for Two Population Means, Introductory Statistics, 9th edition.
480-483
3) Prof. Stephen J. Piazza (2011). Increased arm swing asymmetry is early sign of Parkinson's
disease. The Pennsylvania State University.
4) Robert A Hauser, MD. (2014). Parkinson Disease Clinical Presentation. Medscape: Health
Professional Network.

Table I
Left
2.38
2.76
3.21
2.61
3.98
2.69
2.98
2.77
3.14
2.86
2.93
3.02
3.28
2.82
2.99
2.55
3.46
2.92
3.51
2.9
3.26
3.03
2.72
2.78
2.31
2.1
2.55
2.48
3.27
3.16

Right
2.36
2.8
2.86
2.61
3.69
2.4
2.82
2.62
3.49
2.59
3.03
2.91
3.74
2.8
3.3
2.64
3.83
2.84
3.85
3.06
3.4
2.52
3.18
2.84
2.36
2.15
2.67
2.64
3.74
3.26

Left
3.52
2.93
2.74
2.46
3.09
2.88
3.35
3.03
3
2.95
2.98
3.1
3.4
2.74
3.04
2.55
2.68
2.63
2.56
2.24
2.55
2.42
3.34
3.01
2.83
3.01
2.9
2.84
2.93
2.71

Right
3.6
3.02
2.73
2.57
3.31
2.76
3.77
2.7
3.49
2.88
3.31
2.9
3.55
2.71
3.32
2.46
2.68
2.35
2.36
2.21
2.41
2.3
3.51
3.2
3.07
3
3.34
2.63
3.06
2.7

Peak Acceleration (I)

Left Right
2.74 3.15
2.67 2.72
3.12 3.43
2.77 2.48
2.58 2.61
2.37 2.09
2.93 2.84
2.87 2.6
3.06 3.4
2.89 3.16
3.01 3.13
3
3.07
3.01 3.59
3.02 2.93
2.96 3.16
3.18 2.9
3.43 3.79
3.45 3.14
3.24 3.51
3.15 3.08
2.81 3.01
2.95 2.8
2.81 3.21
2.79 2.52
3
3.13
2.83 2.66
3.68 3.47
3.14 3.25
2.84 2.85
2.63 2.63

Left
3.31
2.99
3.3
3.1
2.47
2.31
2.88
2.77
3.01
2.91
3.03
2.73
3.05
2.93
3.61
3.56
2.94
2.7
2.93
2.63
2.99
2.94
3.02
2.81
3.24
3.52
3.38
3.01
3
2.79

Right
3.11
3.03
3.23
2.67
2.5
2.24
3.22
2.77
2.92
2.7
3.3
2.55
3.44
2.69
3.85
3.24
3.33
2.8
3.02
2.49
2.94
2.71
3.13
2.62
3.26
2.84
3.33
2.86
2.97
2.54

Left
3.03
2.77
2.91
2.94
3
2.95
2.8
2.53
2.84
2.81
2.84
2.72
2.83
2.76
2.88
2.68
2.79
2.74
3.05
3.12
3.2
2.42
3.3
2.87
3.03
2.55
3.18
3.27
2.99
2.57

Right
3.38
2.85
2.99
2.84
3.35
2.95
2.69
2.43
2.63
2.59
2.96
2.4
2.83
2.66
2.92
2.77
2.7
2.7
3.03
3
3.19
2.7
3.48
2.44
3.16
2.64
3.42
3.13
3.12
2.84

Left
2.79
2.87
2.91
3.27
3.34
2.77
2.77
3.08
2.56
3.09
3.08
2.88
3.15
2.74
2.92
2.62
3.06
3.1
1.42
2.72
2.39
2.52
2.6
2.52
2.38
2.39
2.74
2.73
2.79
2.88
2.65
2.5

Right
2.75
2.93
2.65
3.6
2.93
3.01
2.66
2.99
2.27
3.22
3.1
3.29
3.02
3.09
2.64
2.6
2.8
3.1
2.87
2.38
2.28
2.59
2.36
2.48
2.13
2.44
2.45
2.71
2.56
2.57
1.98
1.88

Left
2.35
2.79
2.72
2.67
2.55
2.65
2.39
2.61
2.88
2.45
2.81
3.01
2.65
3.15
2.82
3.42
3.12
3.3
3.44
3.28
3.02
3.33
2.98
3.02
3.34
3.59
3.17
3.41
2.5
2.97
3.13
3.13

Right
2.72
2.31
2.71
2.34
2.47
2.36
2.83
2.45
2.28
2.5
3.23
2.57
3.01
2.56
3.64
3.09
3.71
3.47
4
3.1
3.17
2.87
3.2
2.91
3.34
2.89
3.26
2.51
3.04
3
3.14
2.74

Peak Acceleration (II)

Left Right
3.28 2.17
2.26 3.06
2.94 2.7
2.9 3.17
2.92 2.26
2.84 2.87
2.66 2.38
2.51 2.85
2.7 2.51
2.94 3.3
3.08 2.71
2.72 3.01
2.8 2.73
2.88 3.29
2.92 2.53
2.62 2.68
3.01 2.43
2.59 2.67
2.72 2.12
2.37 2.72
2.73 2.45
2.48 2.32
2.5 2.48
2.55 2.74
2.58 2.49
2.47 2.75
2.67 2.78
2.62 2.69
2.61 2.54
2.64 2.56
2.66 2.43
2.55 2.59

Left
2.58
2.35
2.41
2.5
2.82
2.5
2.73
2.64
2.57
2.48
2.76
2.59
3.32
3.01
2.89
3.08
2.83
3.09
3.3
2.97
2.48
3.05
2.9
2.9
2.74
2.61
2.88
3.32
3.04
2.49
2.7
2.98

Right
2.54
2.37
2.38
3.05
2.47
2.61
2.5
2.88
2.46
2.9
2.49
4
3.21
3.31
2.86
3.28
2.37
3.3
3.16
2.73
3.35
3.2
3.57
2.9
3.28
2.79
3.96
3.43
3.59
3.01
2.96
3.12

Left
2.58
3.09
2.49
3.07

Right
2.05
3.48
2.25
2.81