Recent technological developments have led to the production of inexpensive, miniature accelerometer sensors with potential for use in a clinical setting. These sensors can provide reliable information on mobility and objective measurement of gait. They are currently used mainly in a research setting; however, with recent advances, incorporation into clinical practice is possible. For illustrative purposes this paper describes some current applications of accelerometers in gait and balance evaluation, falls risk assessment and mobility monitoring. Accelerometers provide quantitative measures of gait, they are capable of identifying specific gait changes in older adults and in fallers and can be used to objectively quantify ambulatory activity levels. Accelerometers have many potential uses in monitoring of patients in rehabilitation. They provide an added objective and quantitative dimension to gait analysis when combined with clinical assessment. They have the potential in the future to stratify falls risk facilitating early initiation of appropriate therapeutic intervention, thus reducing further falls. The challenge facing clinicians and biomedical engineers is to further harness this technology making it part of everyday clinical practice.

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Rapid technological advances have prompted the development of a wide range of telemonitoring systems to enable the prevention, early diagnosis and management, of chronic conditions. Remote monitoring can reduce the amount of recurring admissions to hospital, facilitate more efficient clinical visits with objective results, and may reduce the length of a hospital stay for individuals who are living at home. Telemonitoring can also be applied on a long-term basis to elderly persons to detect gradual deterioration in their health status, which may imply a reduction in their ability to live independently. Mobility is a good indicator of health status and thus by monitoring mobility, clinicians may assess the health status of elderly persons. This article reviews the architecture of health smart home, wearable, and combination systems for the remote monitoring of the mobility of elderly persons as a mechanism of assessing the health status of elderly persons while in their own living environment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of weight restrictions on physiological function and bone health in a group of horse racing jockeys. Twenty-seven elite male jockeys participated in this study (17 flat jockeys; 10 national hunt jockeys). Participants completed a range of measurements including anthropometry, hydration analysis, bone mineral density assessment, and musculoskeletal screening. Fifty-nine percent of flat and 40% of national hunt jockeys showed osteopenia in one or more of the total body, hip or spine scans. Mean urine-specific gravity (Usg) values revealed moderate dehydration on a non-race day (Usg = 1.022 +/- 0.005 and 1.021 +/- 0.007 for flat and national hunt jockeys respectively). Analysis of a number of flat jockeys (n = 11) revealed marked dehydration on an official race day (Usg = 1.028 +/- 0.005). Sixty-four percent of participants reported a current injury at the time of assessment. Our results reveal some worrying trends within this population. Further research is required to examine the effects of current weight control practices typically used by jockeys on both physiological and cognitive function as well as health and performance.