Fall detection with body-worn sensors : a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Public Health

Background:

• Falls in older adults represent a significant public health concern.
• Body-worn sensors are crucial for understanding fall mechanisms and kinematics.
• Existing research lacks standardized methodologies for fall detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and critically analyze studies on fall detection using body-worn sensors.
• To extract and discuss the characteristics of these investigations, including documentation and technical aspects.
• To identify gaps and limitations in current fall detection research.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across electronic databases for articles published between 1998 and 2012.
• 96 relevant records were identified and analyzed by two independent expert reviewers.
• Data extraction utilized a custom-built form, with subsequent processing using SPSS software.

Main Results:

• A significant lack of consensus was found in study methodologies, documentation protocols, and technical characteristics.
• There is a notable scarcity of real-world fall recordings in published studies.
• Many articles lacked a standardized definition of a fall, hindering comparability.

Conclusions:

• Methodological inconsistencies among body-worn sensor fall detection studies are evident.
• Limited evidence-based support exists for commercially available fall detection devices.
• A global research consensus is required to establish incident verification, reporting guidelines, and a common fall definition.