Predicting use of a gait-stabilizing device using a Wii Balance Board
Sean M Mullan1, Nicholas J Evans2, Daniel K Sewell3
1Department of Computer Science, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America.
Plos One
|October 5, 2023
Summary
A Wii Balance Board (WBB) can predict if older adults need gait-stabilizing devices (GSDs). This inexpensive tool helps identify fall risks, promoting proactive use of fall prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Biomechanics
- Rehabilitation Engineering
Background:
- Gait-stabilizing devices (GSDs) effectively prevent falls in older adults.
- Reluctance to use GSDs until after a fall necessitates predictive methods for early adoption.
- Predictive tools for GSD need are crucial for improving fall prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the Wii Balance Board (WBB) as a tool for predicting the need for GSDs.
- To determine if WBB data can differentiate between GSD users and non-users.
- To assess the feasibility of using WBB for fall risk assessment in older adults.
Main Methods:
- Prospective recruitment of 70-100 year old participants, including GSD users and non-users.
- Data collection included Modified Vulnerable Elders Survey, grip strength, and eight balance tests on a WBB.
- Generalized functional linear models were used to predict GSD use based on collected data.
Main Results:
- The WBB, incorporating velocity and acceleration data, improved prediction accuracy for GSD use.
- Predictive models utilizing WBB data outperformed those based solely on grip strength and survey variables.
- Analysis included 201 participants (97 GSD users, 109 non-users) after data cleaning.
Conclusions:
- The WBB is a practical, cost-effective, and user-friendly device for recommending GSD use.
- WBB-based assessments can aid in identifying individuals who would benefit from GSDs.
- This approach supports proactive fall prevention by facilitating timely GSD adoption.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Pole and System Stability
The transfer function is a fundamental concept representing the ratio of two polynomials. The numerator and denominator encapsulate the system's dynamics. The zeros and poles of this transfer function are critical in determining the system's behavior and stability.
Simple poles are unique roots of the denominator polynomial. Each simple pole corresponds to a distinct solution to the system's characteristic equation, typically resulting in exponential decay terms in the system's response.
Simple poles are unique roots of the denominator polynomial. Each simple pole corresponds to a distinct solution to the system's characteristic equation, typically resulting in exponential decay terms in the system's response.
01:26PD Controller: Design
In automotive engineering, car suspension systems often employ Proportional Derivative (PD) controllers to enhance performance. PD controllers are utilized to adjust the damping force in response to road conditions. A controller, acting as an amplifier with a constant gain, demonstrates proportional control, with output directly mirroring input.
Designing a continuous-data controller requires selecting and linking components like adders and integrators, which are fundamental in Proportional,...
Designing a continuous-data controller requires selecting and linking components like adders and integrators, which are fundamental in Proportional,...
01:24PI Controller: Design
Proportional Integral (PI) controllers are a fundamental component in modern control systems, widely used to enhance performance and mitigate steady-state errors. They are particularly effective in applications such as automatic brightness adjustment on smartphones, where they excel at mitigating steady-state errors for step-function inputs. Unlike PD controllers, which require time-varying errors to function optimally, PI controllers leverage their integral component to address residual...