A Mobile Phone-Based Gait Assessment App for the Elderly: Development and Evaluation

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Digital Health
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Gait disorders are a prevalent issue among the elderly population.
• Mobile technology offers a promising avenue for remote health monitoring in older adults.
• Self-monitoring gait quality can aid in preventing adverse health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a mobile application, Pocket Gait, for monitoring gait quality in older adults.
• To evaluate the acceptability and usability of the Pocket Gait app among community-dwelling older adults.
• To identify user-centered improvements for mobile gait assessment tools.

Main Methods:

• 148 older adults (≥60 years) from Beijing and Chongqing used a smartphone app to record gait parameters during single task, dual task, and fast walking.
• User acceptability was assessed via questionnaires on perceived ease of use, usefulness, learning, and intention to use.
• System Usability Scale (SUS) and qualitative interviews were employed to evaluate usability and gather feedback.

Main Results:

• Task type significantly impacted all measured gait parameters (step frequency, RMS, regularity, symmetry, variability).
• The Pocket Gait app demonstrated positive user acceptability, though overall usability (SUS score 59.7) varied by region and age.
• Older adults suggested enhancements like larger fonts, reference values, and integrated vital sign monitoring.

Conclusions:

• The Pocket Gait mobile app serves as a valuable tool for older adults in self-managing gait health and potentially preventing adverse events.
• Future mobile gait assessment app designs should consider demographic factors like age and geographic region.
• Participant feedback is crucial for developing more user-friendly and effective elderly-focused digital health products.