Evaluation and intervention in the risk of falls in institutionalized elderly using smartphone sensors (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Aging produces a deterioration in the older person and this affects the neuromuscular system among others, reducing muscle mass, strength and muscle power and this generates a decrease in functional capacity in the elderly, can cause falls and disability. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to analyze the ability to know the functional capacity and fall risk of elderly people in nursing homes through a novel short-test using a single inertial sensor embedded in an Android device. METHODS Study participants included 47 older people (over 55 years old) resided in two nursing homes. Functional assessment with FallSkip® which includes static balance, gait analysis, lower limb power when sit to stand, test execution time and reaction time. The patients were randomly divided into two study groups, control and experimental group. The experimental group underwent individualized rehabilitation therapy based on the results obtained by the modified Timed Up and Go falls risk test. Subsequently, the results obtained between the two residences and between the experimental groups were compared. RESULTS 70% of people in nursing homes are over 75 years old, which the female participants were mostly found in the older age groups, unlike their male counterparts, who were concentrated in the younger age groups. When comparing the anthropometric variables and clinical scales for the two nursing homes no statistically significant differences appeared (p > 0.05) only on the fall risk score (p < 0.05) and the sit to stand power (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The comfort of evaluating the functional status of the elderly in the nursing homes by an objective and simple functional test has allowed us to carry out individualized rehabilitation interventions for each participant; as well as to know the functional level of the people in the nursing homes.