An Instrument for the Longitudinal Monitoring of Changes in Balance and Gait Func

描述（由申请人提供）：该项目的目标是提供一种可穿戴仪器，用于监测负责人类步态和平衡稳定性的多级控制系统的鲁棒性水平。在诊所或不受约束的受试者日常生活中记录的长期、自由漫游的步态动力学测量，将提供对个体步态模式历史进行分形分析所必需的长时间步幅间隔和长度信息。具体来说，我们的系统将记录连续步骤的大样本的步态度量变化。对记录数据的分形模式分析将为相关控制系统的组织和功能提供参考。系统设计将侧重于硬件精度和软件精度设计要求，这对于揭示现有或进展中的步态和平衡障碍的临床相关迹象是必要的。公共卫生相关性：跌倒是老年人致残和死亡的一个重要原因。此外，行走能力差与身体功能加速衰退和入住养老院的风险增加有关。因此，在衰老过程中活动的动态是健康和生活质量的一个极其重要的预测指标。我们建议开发和验证一个硬件和分析软件系统，以测量每天在自由漫游活动中摔倒的可能性。然后可以采用已证明可减少老年人跌倒风险的干预措施循证指南。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The objective of this program is to provide a wearable instrument that monitors the level of the robustness of the multilevel control system responsible for human gait and balance stability. Long-term, free roaming gait dynamics measurements, recorded in either the clinic or during the unfettered subject's daily routine, will provide extended-time stride interval and length information necessary to perform fractal analysis of the individual's gait pattern history. Specifically, our system will record gait metric variations over large samples of successive steps. Fractal pattern analysis of the recorded data will provide incite into the organization and functioning of the relevant control systems. System design will focus upon the hardware precision and software accuracy design requirements for this necessary to unmask clinically relevant signs of existing or progressing gait and balance impairments. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Falls are a significant source of disability and death in the aging population. Also, poor performance in walking is associated with accelerated decline in physical function and elevated risk of admission to nursing home. As such, the dynamics of mobility during aging is an extremely important predictor of health and quality of life. We propose to develop and validate a system of hardware and analysis software to measure the likelihood of falling during free roaming activities from day to day. Evidence-based guidelines for interventions that have been shown to reduce risk of falls in older persons can then be employed.