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A novel infrared laser device that measures multilateral parameters of stepping performance for assessment of all risk in elderly individuals

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Aging Clinical and Experimental Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 01 June 2013

Abstract

Background and aims

Avoiding falls requires fast and appropriate step responses in real-life situations. We developed a step-tracking device that uses an infrared laser sensor for convenient assessment of stepping performance, including concurrent assessment of temporal and spatial parameters. In the present study, we created a new index for assessment of fall risk that uses step speed and accuracy measurements. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the new index could discriminate between elderly individuals with different risks of falling.

Methods

One hundred and fifty-two community-dwelling elderly individuals (73.9 ± 4.6 years) participated and performed stepping tasks as quickly as possible on a plus-shaped mat in response to optical cues. The step-tracking device with the infrared sensor detected the motion and position of both legs in the step field. The device recorded temporal and spatial parameters, foot-off and foot-contact time, step length, and the percentage of correctly executed steps. We used the coefficients of a logistic regression model to develop “stepping-response score” based on the weighted sum of these temporal and spatial parameters.

Results

The faller group had significantly worse stepping-response score than the non-faller group (p < 0.001). A stepwise logistic regression analysis demonstrated that stepping-response score was independently associated with falling (odds ratio = 0.15; p < 0.001). The ROC curve had a moderate AUC (0.73) for stepping-response score (sensitivity 73.0 %; specificity 69.7 %).

Conclusions

This study indicates that the stepping-response score calculated from measurements obtained using the new step-tracking device can identify elderly individuals who are at a risk of falling.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the students at the Department of Human Health Sciences at Kyoto University for their help with data collection. We would also like to acknowledge Murata Machinery, Ltd. and the students of Keio University for their contributions to device development.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Human Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Shu Nishiguchi, Minoru Yamada & Tomoki Aoyama

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, 1-1-20 Daikouminami, Higashi-ku, Nagoya, 461-8673, Japan

    Kazuki Uemura

  3. Graduate School of Science and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan

    Tetsuya Matsumura

  4. Department of System Design Engineering, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 223-8522, Japan

    Masaki Takahashi

  5. Research and Development Division, Murata Machinery, Ltd., 136 Takeda-Mukaishiro-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, 612-8686, Japan

    Toshiki Moriguchi

Authors
  1. Shu Nishiguchi
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  2. Minoru Yamada
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  3. Kazuki Uemura
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  4. Tetsuya Matsumura
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  5. Masaki Takahashi
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  6. Toshiki Moriguchi
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  7. Tomoki Aoyama
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Correspondence to Shu Nishiguchi.

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Nishiguchi, S., Yamada, M., Uemura, K. et al. A novel infrared laser device that measures multilateral parameters of stepping performance for assessment of all risk in elderly individuals. Aging Clin Exp Res 25, 311–316 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0042-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0042-9

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