Analyzing the Use of Accelerometers as a Method of Early Diagnosis of Alterations in Balance in Elderly People: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Alterations of balance are a growing public health problem as they affect one in three adults over the age of 65, and one in two over the age of 80. Identifying the factors that affect postural stability is essential in designing specific interventions to maintain the independence and mobility of older people. The aim of this review was to understand the use of accelerometers in order to assess the balance in older people. Analyzing the most appropriate evaluation methodology and protocolizing it will optimize the processes of early identification of balance alterations. However, quantitative assessment methods of balance are usually limited to a laboratory environment, a factor that can be overcome by accelerometers. A systematic search was carried out across eight databases where accelerometers were employed to assess balance in older people. Articles were excluded if they focused on sensor design and did not measure balance or apply the technology on targeted participants. A total of 19 articles were included for full-text analysis, where participants took part in the balance evaluation monitored by accelerometers. The analysis of spatio-temporal parameters and the magnitude of the accelerations recorded by the devices were the most common study variables. Accelerometer usage has potential to positively influence interventions based on physical exercise to improve balance and prevent falls in older people.

Reliability of accelerometric assessment of balance in children aged 6–12 years

“…Accelerations in the mid-lateral axis and the magnitude of the RMS of the accelerations have been strongly associated with the risk of falling in adults [14,34]. This is relevant because it has been determined that falls are the most common injury mechanism in all age groups during childhood; and the origin of these falls: (a) the lack of sleep, (b) lack of concentration and (c) the deficit in the development of motor skills [35].…”

“…Numerous studies with accelerometers have evaluated balance and have been focussed on adult or elderly populations, especially in cases of risk of falling [11][12][13]. Balance accelerometric evaluation has been compared repeatedly with clinical trials and tests results, having positive results in different populations such as: (a) elderly people with a history of falls or a cerebrovascular accident, (b) children with dyslexia, (c) patients with Huntington's and Parkinson's disease and (d) patients with progressive cerebellar ataxia, and with vestibular disorders [14].…”

Validity and Reliability of a Tool for Accelerometric Assessment of Balance in Scholar Children

“…Using a low frequency helps to eliminate any acceleration noise [ 6 ]. Thus, a frequency of 50 Hz was selected to achieve greater accuracy in the analysis of postural balance [ 13 ].…”

“…Consequently, this should be the study object to evaluate balance, in contrast to the traditional way, which is focused on the center of pressures. The latter is strongly related to postural control, although it is only an indirect measurement of it; moreover, it is only valid if the body is considered as an inverted pendulum and not as a multisegment system, which is closer to reality [ 5 , 6 ].…”

Identification of Body Balance Deterioration of Gait in Women Using Accelerometers

“…In contrast, in a clinical setting, the use of tests such as the Romberg test, the Timed Up and Go, the Berg Balance Score, the Tinetti Scale, the Functional Reach Test or the BESTest (Balance Evaluation Systems Test) is frequent. In general, one aspect common to all of them is that the resulting score depends on the qualitative and subjective evaluation of the evaluator [8].…”