Capturing Objective Functional Measures Using Smartphone Inertial Sensors: Feasibility and Usability Study With Older...

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Geriatric Medicine
• Rehabilitation Technology

Background:

• Digital platforms and smartphone applications offer potential for home-based interventions and physiotherapy support for musculoskeletal conditions.
• Older adults, who are disproportionately affected by these conditions, may face challenges with digital literacy, necessitating evaluation of technology accessibility and acceptability in this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and usability of functional assessments using smartphone inertial sensors in adults aged 60 and above.
• To evaluate the potential for remote, unsupervised monitoring of physical activity in older adults.

Main Methods:

• A 4-week home-based trial involving 21 participants (≥60 years) who recorded unsupervised sit-to-stand and single-leg balance activities weekly via smartphone.
• Analysis of data quality and adherence through uploaded datasets, supplemented by interviews and the System Usability Scale for usability feedback.

Main Results:

• High adherence was observed, with no significant deviations in session completion or duration.
• The System Usability Scale yielded a mean score of 81.2 (SD 17.5), indicating good usability.
• Valid data upload proportions were 93.5% for sit-to-stand and 63.8% for single-leg balance assessments.

Conclusions:

• Smartphone-based monitoring facilitates unsupervised, remote functional assessments, potentially reducing physiotherapy service burden and enabling objective progress tracking.
• Activity complexity should be considered, with potential for gradual increases in difficulty.
• App-based feedback is crucial for informing users about progress and adherence.