Assessing falls in the elderly population using G-STRIDE foot-mounted inertial sensor

Abstract

Falls are one of the main concerns in the elderly population due to their high prevalence and associated consequences. Guidelines for the management of the elder with falls are comprised of multidimensional assessments, especially gait and balance. Daily clinical practice needs for timely, effortless, and precise tools to assess gait. This work presents the clinical validation of the G-STRIDE system, a 6-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU) with onboard processing algorithms, that allows the calculation of walking-related metrics correlated with clinical markers of fall risk. A cross-sectional case-control study was conducted with 163 participants (falls and non-falls groups). All volunteers were assessed with clinical scales and conducted a 15-min walking test at a self-selected pace while wearing the G-STRIDE. G-STRIDE is a low-cost solution to facilitate the transfer to society and clinical evaluations. It is open hardware and flexible and, thus, has the advantage of providing runtime data processing. Walking descriptors were derived from the device, and a correlation analysis was conducted between walking and clinical variables. G-STRIDE allowed measuring walking parameters in non-restricted walking conditions (e.g. hallway). Walking parameters statistically discriminate between falls and non-falls groups. We found good/excellent estimation accuracy (ICC = 0.885; [Formula: see text]) for walking speed, showing good/excellent correlation between gait speed and several clinical variables. G-STRIDE can calculate walking-related metrics that allow for discrimination between falls and non-falls groups, which correlates with clinical indicators of fall risk. A preliminary fall-risk assessment based on the walking parameters was found to improve the Timed Up and Go test in the identification of fallers.

Figure 1

G-STRIDE IMU. Left: unit for tests. Right: IMU attached to a participant’s foot.

Figure 2

“Speed_4m_walk” normality distribution by Falls group.

Figure 3

“Velocity (m/s)” normality distribution by Falls group.

Figure 4

Pearson correlation matrix: Conventional vs IMU parameters. IMC BMI or Body Mass Index, GDS Global Deterioration Scale de Reisberg, FRG Frailty assessment using the Standardized Frailty Criteria, SPPB Short Physical Performance Battery Scale, TUG Timed Up-and-Go test, FES1 Falls Efficacy Scale-International.

Figure 5

Pearson correlation matrix: Conventional vs IMU_STD parameters. IMC BMI or Body Mass Index, GDS Global Deterioration Scale de Reisberg, FRG Frailty assessment using the Standardized Frailty Criteria, SPPB Short Physical Performance Battery Scale, TUG Timed Up-and-Go test, FES1 Falls Efficacy Scale-International.