How measuring an older person’s walking pattern can help keep them mobile: ‘Personalised healthcare for mobility’

Abstract

One of the common causes of falls is gait deficiency, and the first aim of the study was to ascertain how specific gait parameters of elderly people with gait and balance issues compare to those of the healthy elderly population. Eleven ‘at risk’ elderly people were compared with eighteen healthy people. The second aim was to explore the potential of using objective data to support personalised exercise over a two year period to help prevent falls. The ‘at risk’ group attended a weekly balance class and were monitored regularly. The results indicate that gait can be adapted by instruction and exercises. Regular monitoring provided the participants with the incentive to continue with the exercises. No participant fell during the monitoring period and all remained active. These results indicate that it is possible to personalise exercises and provide motivation using gait data and this could potentially reduce falls in the elderly.