Abstract
Recent technological advances have led to the development of small wearable microelectronic sensors (accelerometers) that detect motion, gravitational acceleration, and velocity with six degrees of freedom (forward-backward, updown, and side-to-side plus rotational vectors). We have used these motion sensors to create new analytical tools called biokinetographs (BKGs). BKGs allow for more precise screening, diagnosing, monitoring, assessment and predicting of function of elderly people as they ambulate using sophisticated analysis of the unique electronic motion signature of each person. Remarkable visual differences in “functional walking signatures” are evident on the BKGs between fallers and non-fallers. This presentation will summarize our current efforts to translate this new technology into novel clinical and research tools for improving function, reducing injurious falls, and diagnosing orthopedic and neurological conditions for elderly people.
Highlights
The specific goal of this research is to use our patentedanalytic technology to conveniently and unobtrusively assess overall health status and well-being by way of a characteristic, qualitative biokinetic (BKG) signature
BKGs allow for more precise screening, diagnosing, monitoring, assessment and predicting of function of elderly people as they ambulate using sophisticated analysis of the unique electronic motion signature of each person
Immobility increases our risk of diseases such as osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, and possibly malignancy
Summary
The specific goal of this research is to use our patentedanalytic technology to conveniently and unobtrusively assess overall health status and well-being by way of a characteristic, qualitative biokinetic (BKG) signature. Refinements in digital movement-recording wearable technology can reproduce the salient measures obtained in the balance and gait laboratory, allowing ultra-sensitive, unobtrusive, continuous monitoring of human movement (including simultaneous monitoring of head, arm, waist, and leg movements) as well as characteristics of the physiologic and ambient environment such as temperature, and heart rate These digital technologies are capable of collecting similar quality data to that provided by established motion-capture systems, but their portability and low-cost enable non-invasive and continuous motion data collection over an extended period of time and in the subjects’ own environment. We will develop personal movement signatures that can be gathered longitudinally to analyze the individual’s age-specific performance trajectory and to develop norms and biokinetic indices for human performance analogous to the growth charts used by pediatricians to identify children with developmental abnormalities or the intelligence quotients used by psychologists Deviations from these norms can provide an early warning of functional change before disabilities become permanent and are evident through traditional evaluations. This knowledge could be valuable for concussions and sports related injuries and will stimulate new families of intervention strategies based on an improved awareness of the specific mechanisms underlying dysfunction
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