Smartphone Technology Can Measure Postural Stability and Discriminate Fall Risk in Older Adults

Falls are the leading cause of injury related death in older adults 65 years and older [1]. Falls not only lead to physical injuries, but they also lead to activity curtailment, physiological deconditioning, and reduction in quality of life [1]. The number of annual fall-related injuries in the United States is expected to be 5.7 million by 2030 [2]. In 2015, the estimated medical cost of falls was 50 billion dollars [3]. Given the frequency and severity of falls, there is a need to identify factors that predict and prevent falls.

Source: Gait and Posture - October 9, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Katherine L. Hsieh, Kathleen L. Roach, Douglas A. Wajda, Jacob J. Sosnoff Tags: Full length article Source Type: research