Timed Up-and-Go Device for Unsupervised Functional Assessment of Elderly Patients
Ziegl, A.; Modre-Osprian, R.; Sánchez, A.; Falgenhauer, M.; Kastner, P.; Schreier, G.ün.
Studies in Health Technology and Informatics 236: 298-304
2017
ISSN/ISBN: 1879-8365 PMID: 28508810 Document Number: 692728
Functional evaluation of elderly patients is one key component in a comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. The increased workload and high costs associated to close and continuous monitoring in clinical settings may be counterbalanced by the application of ICT-supported remote follow-up. Although clinical parameters and questionnaires can be supported with smartphones and smart gadgets, physical performance trials pose a challenge for community-based approaches with difficulties arising from setting up trials, the lack of guidance and supervision. We developed an ultrasonic-based device to overcome all of these barriers and enable elderly people to perform the Timed Up-and-Go test in an autonomous and unsupervised setting. Moreover, we introduce an algorithm to verify the successful performance of the test in order to increase the reliability of the information provided.