Evaluation of Concurrent Validity between a Smartphone Self-Test Prototype and Clinical Instruments for Balance and Leg Strength

Linda Mansson,Fredrik Öhberg,Jonas Sandlund,Jonas Selling,Marlene Sandlund,Pernilla Bäckman

doi:10.3390/s21051765

Linda Mansson, Fredrik Öhberg + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/s21051765

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Abstract

The evolving use of sensors to objectively assess movements is a potentially valuable addition to clinical assessments. We have developed a new self-test application prototype, MyBalance, in the context of fall prevention aimed for use by older adults in order to independently assess balance and functional leg strength. The objective of this study was to investigate the new self-test application for concurrent validity between clinical instruments and variables collected with a smartphone. The prototype has two test procedures: static standing balance test in two positions, and leg strength test performed as a sit-to-stand test. Thirty-one older adults were assessed for balance and functional leg strength, in an outpatient physiotherapy setting, using seven different clinical assessments and three sensor-tests. The results show that clinical instruments and sensor measurements correlate to a higher degree for the smartphone leg strength test. For balance tests, only a few moderate correlations were seen in the Feet Together position and no significant correlations for the Semi Tandem Stance. This study served as a first step to develop a smartphone self-test application for older adults to assess functional balance at home. Further research is needed to test validity, reliability, and user-experience of this new self-test application.

Highlights

Published: 4 March 2021Accidental falls related to impaired balance among older adults is an increasing challenge causing suffering for the individual and substantial costs to society [1]
The results from this study show that clinical instruments and the sensor measurements had significant low to moderate correlations for the leg strength tests, but poorer correlations for the balance tests
Sensor measurements from the smartphone application prototype showed a higher degree of correlation for the leg strength test than for the balance tests when compared to clinical instrument assessments

Summary

Introduction

Accidental falls related to impaired balance among older adults is an increasing challenge causing suffering for the individual and substantial costs to society [1]. There is strong evidence that balance and leg strength exercises prevent falls [2]. To evaluate and follow up exercise programs and identify individuals in the risk zone, it is important to be able to measure balance and leg strength in an easy but reliable way. Balance contains elements of stability and orientation [4], where stability is the relation between the base of support and the centre of gravity, and orientation is the postural alignment of the body and its orientation to its surroundings. Well-known examples of such instruments are, for example, the Berg Balance

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