Results
Title

Continuous Monitoring of Turning Mobility and Its Association to Falls and Cognitive Function: A Pilot Study.

Authors

Mancini, Martina; Schlueter, Heather; El-Gohary, Mahmoud; Mattek, Nora; Duncan, Colette; Kaye, Jeffrey; Horak, Fay B.

Abstract

Background: Difficulty turning is a major contributor to mobility disability, falls, and reduced quality of life in older people because it requires dynamic balance control that worsens with age. However, no study has quantified the quality and quantity of turning during normal daily activities in older people. The objective of this pilot study was to determine if quality of turning during daily activities is associated with falls and/or cognitive function.Methods: Thirty-five elderly participants (85 ± 8 years) wore three Opal inertial sensors. Turning and activity rate were measured. Based on retrospective falls, participants were grouped into nonfallers (N = 16), single fallers (N = 12), and recurrent fallers (N = 7). We also determined which turning characteristic predicted falls in the 6 months following the week of monitoring.Results: Quality of turning was significantly compromised in recurrent fallers compared with nonfallers (p Conclusions: Continuous monitoring of turning characteristics, while walking during daily activities, is feasible in older people. Turning characteristics during daily life appear to be more sensitive to fall risk than prescribed turning tasks. These findings suggest a slower, less variable, cautious turning strategy in elderly volunteers with a history of falls.

Subjects

ACTIVITIES of daily living; FUNCTIONAL loss in older people; COGNITION -- Social aspects; OLDER people & society; ACCIDENTAL falls in old age; PSYCHOLOGY; BIOSENSORS; BODY weight; COGNITION; POSTURAL balance; ACCIDENTAL falls; GAIT in humans; PATIENT monitoring; QUALITY of life; RESEARCH funding; RISK assessment; WALKING; PILOT projects; BODY mass index; RETROSPECTIVE studies

Publication

Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences & Medical Sciences, 2016, Vol 71, Issue 8, p1102

ISSN

1079-5006

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1093/gerona/glw019