Characteristics of physical activity are indicative of one's mobility level, latent chronic diseases and aging process. Accelerometers have been widely accepted as useful and practical sensors for wearable devices to measure and assess physical activity. This paper reviews the development of wearable accelerometry-based motion detectors. The principle of accelerometry measurement, sensor properties and sensor placements are first introduced. Various research using accelerometry-based wearable motion detectors for physical activity monitoring and assessment, including posture and movement classification, estimation of energy expenditure, fall detection and balance control evaluation, are also reviewed. Finally this paper reviews and compares existing commercial products to provide a comprehensive outlook of current development status and possible emerging technologies.

A Review of Accelerometry-Based Wearable Motion Detectors for Physical Activity Monitoring

Falls in older people: risk factors and strategies for prevention.

https://www.archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(02)00253-8/pdf

A clinical test of stepping and change of direction to identify multiple falling older adults.

The test-retest reliability of centre of pressure measures in bipedal static task conditions--a systematic review of the literature.

Good balance is an imperative skill for daily life that requires the complex integration of sensory information regarding the position of the body relative to the surroundings and the ability to generate appropriate motor responses to control body movement. Balance calls upon contributions from vision, vestibular sense, proprioception, muscle strength and reaction time. With increased age, there is a progressive loss of functioning of these systems which can contribute to balance deficits. Balance disorders represent a growing public health concern due to the association with falls and fall-related injuries, particularly in regions of the world in which high proportions of the population are elderly. Falls present one of the most serious and costly problems associated with older adulthood. Falls can mark the beginning of a decline in function and independence and are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalisation in older people. One in three people over the age of 65 years who are living in the community experience at least one fall each year and 10-15% of these falls are associated with serious injury. In economic terms, the direct and indirect costs associated with falls are large and will grow as the proportion of older people increases. Consequently, understanding age-related changes in the physiological systems imperative to balance is of utmost importance to prevent falls in older people and reduce the injury-related burden on individuals and society.

Balance disorders in the elderly.

https://www.archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(95)80075-1/pdf

Age and gender effects on postural control measures.

A home-based reinforcement package was implemented to decrease serious disruptive and aggressive behaviors in three groups of six pre-school and kindergarten-age children, who participated across s...

Home-Based Treatment of Severe Disruptive Behaviors: A Reinforcement Package for Preschool and Kindergarten Children

Consumer satisfaction as an indicator of quality of life relative to the certification/accreditation level of community residential facilities was examined using three separate measures. One hundred forty six subjects residing in 47 separate Centers for the Developmentally Disabled (CDD's) were surveyed. Results indicated that residents of nationally accredited CDD's rated their quality of life as superior to those clients living in nonaccredited facilities. Suggestions for changes in program evaluation methods utilizing consumer satisfaction as a major variable are offered.

Client perceptions of quality of life in accredited and nonaccredited community residential facilities

The effectiveness of three techniques in reducing lever-pressing behavior was studied as a function of past reinforcement history and present schedule of reinforcement. 30 children (mean age 5 yr.,...

Effectiveness of Differential Reinforcement as a Function of past Reinforcement and Present Schedule

This experiment analyzed the relative effectiveness of three different omission-training conditions (OT 5 sec., OT 20 sec., and gradual OT with a time-dependent criterion) in reducing a lever-press response following three different histories of reinforcement. 36 children between the ages of 4½ and 11 yr. were initially trained to press a lever according to a VR 35 schedule of reinforcement for 10 min. (Period I). Following acquisition, subjects were exposed to one of three conditions: DRL 10 sec. followed by OT, maintenance of VR followed by OT, or OT alone (Periods II and III). Over-all results indicated a significant reduction in response rate with the introduction or continuation of the various OT schedules. The DRL-OT treatment combination was significantly more effective in reducing response rate than the introduction of the same OT schedules following the lengthened VR history, but the use of the DRL-OT treatment combination was not significantly better than the OT condition of the same duration. O...

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J. Michael Leibowitz

Papers

Age and gender effects on postural control measures.

Home-Based Treatment of Severe Disruptive Behaviors: A Reinforcement Package for Preschool and Kindergarten Children

Client perceptions of quality of life in accredited and nonaccredited community residential facilities

Effectiveness of Differential Reinforcement as a Function of past Reinforcement and Present Schedule

Effectiveness of Various Omission Training Procedures as a Function of Reinforcement History