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Published on: October 25, 2024
Body sway measurement for fall risk assessment using inexpensive webcams
Fang Wang1, Marjorie Skubic, Carmen Abbott
1Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. fwnf5@mizzou.edu
Summary
This study introduces a novel method using web cameras to measure body sway, showing good agreement with Vicon motion capture. This technology can aid in assessing balance and fall risk for the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Biomechanics
- Human Motion Analysis
- Computer Vision
Background:
- Accurate measurement of body sway is crucial for assessing balance and fall risk.
- Existing motion capture systems can be expensive and impractical for daily living environments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a cost-effective method for extracting body sway parameters using calibrated web cameras.
- To assess the system's accuracy by comparing its results with a Vicon motion capture system.
Main Methods:
- A 3D voxel reconstruction was created from silhouettes captured by two calibrated web cameras.
- Subjects performed various sway movements (anterior-posterior, lateral) and walking tasks at different speeds.
- Data from the web camera system were compared against a Vicon motion capture system.
Main Results:
- The proposed web camera system demonstrated good agreement with the Vicon motion capture system.
- The system successfully extracted body sway parameters during different movement tasks.
Conclusions:
- The developed method offers a potential tool for measuring body sway in real-world settings.
- This technology can be integrated into balance, stability, and fall risk assessment tools, particularly for the elderly.
