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Intra and Inter-Device Reliabilities of the Instrumented Timed-Up and Go Test Using Smartphones in Young Adult
Thâmela Thaís Santos Dos Santos1, Amélia Pasqual Marques2, Luis Carlos Pereira Monteiro3
1Laboratório de Estudos da Motricidade Humana, Av. Generalíssimo Deodoro 01, Belém 66073-000, PA, Brazil.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|May 11, 2024
Summary
Smartphone inertial sensors offer a reliable method for instrumented Timed-Up and Go (iTUG) tests, enhancing fall risk assessment. This study confirms iTUG parameters are replicable, providing a valid alternative to traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Rehabilitation Technology
- Geriatric Medicine
Background:
- The Timed-Up and Go (TUG) test is a standard clinical tool for assessing mobility and fall risk.
- Current TUG assessments rely solely on timed execution, potentially missing nuanced mobility data.
- Integrating technology can provide richer insights into TUG test performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the reliability of smartphone-based instrumented TUG (iTUG) parameters.
- To assess both intra-device and inter-device reliability of iTUG measurements.
- To determine if smartphone inertial sensors are a viable alternative for TUG assessment.
Main Methods:
- Participants wore smartphones at the lumbar spine (L3-L5).
- Experiment A assessed intra-device reliability (n=30) with three trials on the same device.
- Experiment B assessed inter-device reliability (n=15) using different devices for three trials.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in TUG duration between stopwatch and smartphone measurements.
- High correlation and agreement between stopwatch and smartphone iTUG data.
- Nine out of eleven iTUG variables showed significant intra-device reliability (4 excellent, 5 moderate-high).
- Nine out of eleven iTUG variables demonstrated significant inter-device reliability.
- Minor device-specific variations noted in angular velocity peaks.
Conclusions:
- Smartphone inertial sensors provide a valid, applicable, and feasible method for TUG assessment.
- iTUG enhances traditional TUG testing by offering additional, reliable mobility parameters.
- This technology can improve the accuracy and depth of fall risk and mobility evaluations.
