Novel application of a force sensor during sit‐to‐stands to measure dynamic cerebral autoregulation onset

Current sit‐to‐stand methods measuring dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) do not capture the precise onset of the time delay (TD) response. Reduced sit‐to‐stand reactions in older adults and individuals post‐stroke could inadvertently introduce variability, error, and imprecise timing. We applied a force sensor during a sit‐to‐stand task to more accurately determine how TD before the onset of dCA may be altered. Middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were measured during two sit‐to‐stands separated by 15 min. Recordings started with participants sitting on a force‐sensitive resistor for 60 s, then asked to stand for 2 min. Upon standing, the force sensor voltage immediately dropped and marked the exact moment of arise‐and‐off (AO). Time from AO until an increase in cerebrovascular conductance (CVC = MCAv/MAP) was calculated as TD. We tested the sensor in four healthy young adults, two older adults, and two individuals post‐stroke. Healthy young adults stood quickly and the force sensor detected a small change in TD compared to classically estimated AO, from verbal command to stand. When compared to the estimated AO, older adults had a delayed measured AO and TD decreased up to ~53% while individuals post‐stroke had an early AO and TD increased up to ~14%. The stance time during the sit‐to‐stand has the potential to influence the TD before the onset of dCA metric. As observed in the older adults and participants with stroke, this response may drastically vary and influence TD.