Showing papers by "Kim Delbaere published in 2021"
TL;DR: In this paper, a home-based, e-health balance exercise program delivered through an app was tested to provide an effective, self-managed fall prevention program for community dwelling older people.
Abstract: Objective To test whether StandingTall, a home based, e-health balance exercise programme delivered through an app, could provide an effective, self-managed fall prevention programme for community dwelling older people. Design Assessor blinded, randomised controlled trial. Setting Older people living independently in the community in Sydney, Australia. Participants 503 people aged 70 years and older who were independent in activities of daily living, without cognitive impairment, progressive neurological disease, or any other unstable or acute medical condition precluding exercise. Interventions Participants were block randomised to an intervention group (two hours of StandingTall per week and health education; n=254) or a control group (health education; n=249) for two years. Main outcome measures The primary outcomes were the rate of falls (number of falls per person year) and the proportion of people who had a fall over 12 months. Secondary outcomes were the number of people who had a fall and the number who had an injurious fall (resulting in any injury or requiring medical care), adherence, mood, health related quality of life, and activity levels over 24 months; and balance and mobility outcomes over 12 months. Results The fall rates were not statistically different in the two groups after the first 12 months (0.60 falls per year (standard deviation 1.05) in the intervention group; 0.76 (1.25) in the control group; incidence rate ratio 0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.62 to 1.13, P=0.071). Additionally, the proportion of people who fell was not statistically different at 12 months (34.6% in intervention group, 40.2% in control group; relative risk 0.90, 95% confidence interval 0.67 to 1.20, P=0.461). However, the intervention group had a 16% lower rate of falls over 24 months compared with the control group (incidence rate ratio 0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.72 to 0.98, P=0.027). Both groups had a similar proportion of people who fell over 24 months (relative risk 0.87, 95% confidence interval 0.68 to 1.10, P=0.239), but the proportion of people who had an injurious fall over 24 months was 20% lower in the intervention group compared with the control group (relative risk 0.80, 95% confidence interval 0.66 to 0.98, P=0.031). In the intervention group, 68.1% and 52.0% of participants exercised for a median of 114.0 min/week (interquartile range 53.5) after 12 months and 120.4 min/week (38.6) after 24 months, respectively. Groups remained similar in mood and activity levels. The intervention group had a 0.03 (95% confidence interval 0.01 to 0.06) improvement on the EQ-5D-5L (EuroQol five dimension five level) utility score at six months, and an improvement in standing balance of 11 s (95% confidence interval 2 to 19 s) at six months and 10 s (1 to 19 s) at 12 months. No serious training related adverse events occurred. Conclusions The StandingTall balance exercise programme did not significantly affect the primary outcomes of this study. However, the programme significantly reduced the rate of falls and the number of injurious falls over two years, with similar but not statistically significant effects at 12 months. E-health exercise programmes could provide promising scalable fall prevention strategies. Trial registration ACTRN12615000138583
35 citations
TL;DR: Holistic exercise, delivery with written materials, the setting and tailoring potentially represent characteristics to take into account when designing and improving interventions for FoF in community-dwelling older people.
Abstract: Background and objectives Fear of falling (FoF) is associated with decreased physical functioning and an increased fall risk. Interventions generally demonstrate moderate effects and optimized interventions are needed. Intervention characteristics, such as setting or delivery method may vary. We investigated which overarching intervention characteristics are associated with a reduction in FoF in community-dwelling older people. Research design and methods A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in community-dwelling older people without specific diseases was performed. Associations between intervention characteristics and standardized mean differences (SMD) were determined by univariate meta-regression. Sensitivity analyses were performed. Results Data on 62 RCTs were extracted, 50 intervention groups were included in the meta-analysis. Most intervention characteristics and intervention types were not associated with the intervention effect. Supervision by a tai chi instructor (SMD: -1.047, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.598; -0.496) and delivery in a community setting (SMD: -0.528, 95% CI: -0.894; -0.161) were-compared to interventions without these characteristics-associated with a greater reduction in FoF. Holistic exercise, such as Pilates or yoga (SMD: -0.823, 95% CI: -1.255; -0.392), was also associated with a greater reduction in FoF. Delivery at home (SMD: 0.384, 95% CI: 0.002; 0.766) or with written materials (SMD: 0.452, 95% CI: 0.088; 0.815) and tailoring were less effective in reducing FoF (SMD: 0.687, 95% CI: 0.364; 1.011). Discussion and implications Holistic exercise, delivery with written materials, the setting and tailoring potentially represent characteristics to take into account when designing and improving interventions for FoF in community-dwelling older people. PROSPERO international prospective register of systematic reviews, registration ID CRD42018080483.
23 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a systematic search was conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsychINFO and CENTRAL to determine the association between health literacy and physical activity in older people.
Abstract: Physical inactivity is common in older people and contributes to morbidity and mortality. Health literacy might play a role in motivating people to become or stay physically active. However, little is known about the influence of health literacy on physical activity in older people. This review aims to determine the association between health literacy and physical activity in older people. A systematic search was conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsychINFO and CENTRAL. Inclusion criteria: (i) community-dwelling people with an average age of ≥55 and (ii) reported on the association between health literacy and physical activity. Exclusion criteria: (i) population with a health condition and (ii) case study or qualitative study. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. A meta-analysis was conducted using random-effects models with inverse variance. Thirteen articles were included in the review and five articles were selected for the meta-analysis. Older people with inadequate health literacy were 38% less likely than older people with adequate health literacy to report engaging in physical activity on ≥5 days per week [odds ratio = 0.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.55-0.77]. Only two articles used activity monitors; the mean number of steps taken per day was not significantly different between older people with adequate and inadequate health literacy (standardized mean difference = -0.15, 95% CI -0.30 to 0.01). Physical activity could potentially be fostered by increasing health literacy and empowering older people to make beneficial health decisions.
14 citations
TL;DR: No strong recommendations can be made for the use of any screening method, and more research on identifying residents with the highest fall risk is crucial, as these residents benefit the most from multifactorial assessments and subsequent tailored interventions.
11 citations
TL;DR: Deficits in cognition and affect and affect (depressive symptoms) and concern about falling are as important as sensorimotor function for fall prediction and should be included in fall risk assessments for older people and clinical groups.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify the specific sensorimotor and psychological factors required for older adults to recover balance from trips and slips, and suggest rapid inhibition accuracy and adequate leg strength are required for recovering balance.
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Falls can result in bone fractures and disability, presenting a serious threat to quality of life and independence in older adults. The majority of falls in community-living older adults occur while walking and are often caused by trips and slips. The study aimed to identify the specific sensorimotor and psychological factors required for older adults to recover balance from trips and slips. METHODS Forty-one older adults aged 65 to 87 years were assessed on sensorimotor (knee extension strength, proprioception, postural sway, and edge contrast sensitivity), reaction (simple reaction time, stepping, and catching reaction inhibition), and psychological (general anxiety and concern about falling) measures. Using a harness system, participants walked at 90% of their usual pace on a 10-m walkway that could induce trips and slips in concealed and changeable locations. Post-perturbation responses resulting in more than 30% of body weight being recorded by the harness system were defined as falls. Poisson regressions were used to test associations between the sensorimotor, reaction, and psychological measures and number of falls. RESULTS Fifty-one falls occurred in 25 of 41 participants. Poisson regression revealed body mass index, lower-limb proprioception, knee extension strength, rapid inhibition accuracy, concern about falling, and anxiety were significantly associated with the rate of falls. Other measures including postural sway were not statistically significant. Using stepwise Poisson regression analyses, normalized knee extension strength (rate ratio [RR]: 0.68, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.47-0.98), and rapid inhibition accuracy (RR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.46-0.87) were independently associated with falls. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest rapid inhibition accuracy and adequate leg strength are required for older adults to recover balance from trips and slips. The mechanisms for balance recovery during daily life activities are likely different from those for static balance, suggesting the need for task-specific assessments and interventions for fall prevention in older adults.
8 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a systematic review of five scientific literature databases, the authors identified randomized controlled trials with older community-dwelling people that included fear of falling as an outcome and two reviewers extracted information about outcomes and content of interventions.
Abstract: Purpose Fear of falling (FoF) is a common and debilitating problem for older people. Most multicomponent interventions show only moderate effects. Exploring the effective components may help in the optimization of treatments for FoF. Materials and methods In a systematic review of five scientific literature databases, we identified randomized controlled trials with older community-dwelling people that included FoF as an outcome. There was no restriction on types of interventions. Two reviewers extracted information about outcomes and content of interventions. Intervention content was coded with a coding scheme of 68 intervention components. We compared all studies with a component to those without using univariate meta-regressions. Results Sixty-six studies, reporting on 85 interventions, were included in the systematic review. In the meta-regressions (n = 49), few components were associated with intervention effects at the first available follow up after the intervention, but interventions with meditation, holistic exercises (such as Tai Chi or Pilates) or body awareness were significantly more effective than interventions without these components. Interventions with self-monitoring, balance exercises, or tailoring were less effective compared to those without these components. Conclusions The identified components may be important for the design and optimization of treatments to reduce FoF.Implications for rehabilitationFear of falling (FoF) is a common and debilitating issue among older people and multicomponent interventions usually show only small to moderate effects on FoF.This review and meta-analysis investigated 68 intervention components and their relation to intervention effects on FoF.Interventions with meditation, holistic exercises (such as Tai Chi), or body awareness are more effective than interventions without these components.Clinicians aiming to reduce FoF may recommend selected interventions to older people taking into account the current knowledge of intervention components.
7 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a tablet-delivered cognitive-motor program on mobility in older people with cognitive impairment was examined. But, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the trial was under powered to detect significant results.
6 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a mixed methods systematic review aimed to synthetize existing evidence on facilitators and barriers for physical activity participation experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults in Australia.
Abstract: Physical activity has cultural significance and population health benefits. However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults may experience challenges in participating in physical activity. This mixed methods systematic review aimed to synthetize existing evidence on facilitators and barriers for physical activity participation experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults in Australia. The Joanna Briggs Institute methodology was used. A systematic search was undertaken of 11 databases and 14 grey literature websites during 2020. The included studies reported physical activity facilitators and barriers experienced by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander participants aged 18+ years, living in the community. Twenty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Sixty-two facilitators were identified: 23 individual, 18 interpersonal, 8 community/environmental and 13 policy/program facilitators. Additionally, 63 barriers were identified: 21 individual, 17 interpersonal, 15 community/environmental and 10 policy/program barriers. Prominent facilitators included support from family, friends, and program staff, and opportunities to connect with community or culture. Prominent barriers included a lack of transport, financial constraints, lack of time, and competing work, family or cultural commitments. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults experience multiple facilitators and barriers to physical activity participation. Strategies to increase participation should seek to enhance facilitators and address barriers, collaboratively with communities, with consideration to the local context.
6 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the relationship between WMH volume and gait under single-task and dual task (DT) conditions in people with dementia was examined, and WMH volumes were quantified using a fully automated segmentation toolbox.
6 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a culturally-grounded mindfulness-based program ('Ngarraanga Giinganay') and evaluate acceptability/feasibility with an Aboriginal community on Gumbaynggirr Country is presented.
TL;DR: In this article, a prospective cohort study was conducted to identify the predictors of the development and persistence of musculoskeletal pain (MSKP) in older people, and the results highlight the importance of weight control, strategies to improve mental wellbeing and an active lifestyle for pain management among older people.
Abstract: Aim The aim of this prospective cohort study was to identify the predictors of the development and persistence of musculoskeletal pain (MSKP) in older people. Methods Participants comprised 431 community-dwelling older people aged 70+ years. Demographic, anthropometric, balance, mobility, cognitive function, psychological status and physical activity level measures were obtained at baseline. Participants were asked about the presence of MSKP in the neck/back, hip, knee/leg and/or feet at baseline and two-year follow-up. Logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of the development and persistence of MSKP at two-year follow-up. Results Of 179 participants who reported no MSKP at baseline, 84 (46.9%) reported MSKP at two-year follow-up, which was associated with a higher body mass index (odds ratio (OR) 1.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-1.18), more reported depressive symptoms (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.05-1.61) and lower physical activity levels (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.84-1.00) at baseline. Of 252 participants who reported MSKP at baseline, 202 (80.2%) reported MSKP at follow-up, which was associated with a slower 6-m walking time (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.08-1.49) and more reported depressive symptoms (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.09-1.78). These associations remained significant after adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities and medication use. Conclusions This study suggests that higher body mass index, more depressive symptoms and less physical activity are predictors of developing MSKP, whereas slow gait speed and depressive symptoms are predictors of the persistence of MSKP among older people. The results highlight the importance of weight control, strategies to improve mental wellbeing and an active lifestyle for pain management among older people. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; ••: ••-••.
TL;DR: The developed IconFES cut-points were sensitive to variables associated with concern about falling and predicted fall incidence and physical activity restriction after 12 months, and appears useful to identify older people with high concern about Falling, who are at higher risk of falls and activity curtailment.
Abstract: BACKGROUND This study aimed to develop cut-points for the 30-item and 10-item Iconographical Falls Efficacy Scale (IconFES) in community-dwelling older people and evaluate the psychometric properties, including construct and predictive validity with respect to falls and reduced physical activity over 1 year. METHODS Eight hundred and one participants completed the IconFES and underwent physical, psychological and cognitive measures at baseline. Physical activity was recorded at baseline and 12 months using an activity monitor, and 1-year fall incidence was collected using monthly falls calendars. RESULTS Using receiver-operating characteristic curves and the Youden's index for history of falls, physiological fall risk and depressive symptoms, cut-points were defined to differentiate between low and high concern about falling (30-item: <53; 10-item: <19). For the 30-item IconFES, we additionally defined cut-points for low (≤40), moderate (41-58) and high (≥59) concern about falling. Groups based on these cut-points differed significantly: low coordinated stability, executive function and amount of daily walking, and high level of disability (30-item version) and female gender (low/high 30-item version). Although there were some inconsistencies across IconFES classifications, high concern about falling predicted having had multiple falls or multiple/injurious falls, low amount of daily walking and low movement intensity at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS The developed IconFES cut-points were sensitive to variables associated with concern about falling and predicted fall incidence and physical activity restriction after 12 months. Applying these cut-points appears useful to identify older people with high concern about falling, who are at higher risk of falls and activity curtailment.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors describe the design of a randomised controlled trial that will evaluate the effectiveness of an eHealth program, which addresses cumulative effects of key fall-risk factors across the triad of physical, affective and cognitive functions on falls in older people.
Abstract: Introduction Falls have a multifactorial aetiology, which may limit the effectiveness of the common approach of exercise as the sole intervention strategy. Multifactorial interventions could be more effective in people at high risk of falling; however, the focus of such interventions has traditionally been quite narrow. This paper describes the design of a randomised controlled trial that will evaluate the effectiveness of an eHealth programme, which addresses cumulative effects of key fall-risk factors across the triad of physical, affective and cognitive functions on falls in older people. Methods and analysis 518 older people aged 65 years and over with high fall risk, defined as having a history of falls in the past 6 months, self-reported fear of falling or being aged 80 years or over, will be recruited via local advertisements, newsletters and presentations, and randomised to an intervention or health education control group. The intervention comprises balance exercise, cognitive-motor exercise and cognitive-behavioural therapy, with their dosage based on participant's baseline balance, executive function and mood. The primary outcome is the rate of falls in the 12 months after randomisation. Secondary outcomes at 6 and 12 months comprise programme adherence, healthcare use, physical activity, balance and mobility, cognitive function, psychological well-being, quality of life, health literacy and user experience and attitudes towards the programme. Data will be analysed following intention to treat to gauge real-world effectiveness. We will further determine complier averaged causal effects to correct for varying adherence and conduct economic analyses to gain insight into cost-effectiveness and cost-utility. Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was obtained from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Human Research Ethics Committee in December 2017. Outcomes will be disseminated via peer-reviewed articles, conference presentations, community events and media releases. Trial registration number ACTRN12619000540112.
TL;DR: In this paper, a two-phase study design comprised of a qualitative thematic analysis following a quantitative regression and moderation analysis was conducted to evaluate barriers and facilitators to physical activity.
Abstract: Objectives Indigenous Australians experience higher levels of psychological distress compared to the general population. Physical activity is a culturally acceptable approach, associated with reduction of depressive symptoms. The protective properties of physical activity for depressive symptoms are yet to be evaluated in older Indigenous Australians. Design A two-phase study design comprised of a qualitative thematic analysis following a quantitative regression and moderation analysis. Participants Firstly, a total of 336 Indigenous Australians aged 60 years and over from five NSW areas participated in assessments on mental health, physical activity participation, and childhood trauma. Secondly, a focus group of seven Indigenous Australians was conducted to evaluate barriers and facilitators to physical activity. Measurements Regression and moderation analyses examined links between depression, childhood trauma, and physical activity. Thematic analysis was conducted exploring facilitators and barriers to physical activity following the focus group. Results Childhood trauma severity and intensity of physical activity predicted depressive symptoms. Physical activity did not affect the strength of the relationship between childhood trauma and depression. Family support and low impact activities facilitated commitment to physical activity. In contrast, poor mental health, trauma, and illness acted as barriers. Conclusion Physical activity is an appropriate approach for reducing depressive symptoms and integral in maintaining health and quality of life. While situational factors, health problems and trauma impact physical activity, accessing low-impact group activities with social support was identified to help navigate these barriers.
TL;DR: In this article, a large randomized controlled trial in 503 community-dwelling older people has shown that StandingTall is safe, has high adherence rates and is effective in improving balance and reducing falls.
Abstract: INTRODUCTION: One in three people aged 65 years and over fall each year. The health, economic and personal impact of falls will grow substantially in the coming years due to population ageing. Developing and implementing cost-effective strategies to prevent falls and mobility problems among older people is therefore an urgent public health challenge. StandingTall is a low-cost, unsupervised, home-based balance exercise programme delivered through a computer or tablet. StandingTall has a simple user-interface that incorporates physical and behavioural elements designed to promote compliance. A large randomised controlled trial in 503 community-dwelling older people has shown that StandingTall is safe, has high adherence rates and is effective in improving balance and reducing falls. The current project targets a major need for older people and will address the final steps needed to scale this innovative technology for widespread use by older people across Australia and internationally. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This project will endeavour to recruit 300 participants across three sites in Australia and 100 participants in the UK. The aim of the study is to evaluate the implementation of StandingTall into the community and health service settings in Australia and the UK. The nested process evaluation will use both quantitative and qualitative methods to explore uptake and acceptability of the StandingTall programme and associated resources. The primary outcome is participant adherence to the StandingTall programme over 6 months. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval has been obtained from the South East Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC reference 18/288) in Australia and the North West- Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee (IRAS ID: 268954) in the UK. Dissemination will be via publications, conferences, newsletter articles, social media, talks to clinicians and consumers and meetings with health departments/managers. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12619001329156.
TL;DR: The Ironbark: Standing Strong and Tall (IST) program as mentioned in this paper is a fall prevention program for older Aboriginal people using a mixed methods design and data triangulation.
Abstract: Introduction Process evaluations examining programme implementation are often conducted in conjunction with effectiveness studies. Their inclusion in studies with Aboriginal participants can give an understanding of programme delivery in Aboriginal community contexts. The Ironbark: Standing Strong and Tall programme was codesigned with Aboriginal communities and includes exercise and facilitated ‘yarning’ discussion about fall risk and prevention strategies. The programme pilot showed favourable outcomes and acceptability for Aboriginal people aged 45 years and over. The Ironbark: Standing Strong and Tall programme is now being compared with a ‘Healthy Community’ programme in a cluster randomised controlled trial within Aboriginal health and community services. An embedded process evaluation aims to explore relationships between participation and programme outcomes and the quality of programme implementation. Methods and analysis The process evaluation will use a mixed methods design, guided by Indigenous research methodology. It will evaluate quantitative data (number of completed sessions, site coaching checklist tool, participant and facilitator questionnaire data and a participant habit formation scale), as well as qualitative data (open-ended responses from project and site staff and semistructured interviews using yarning with study participants and site managers). A programme logic model was developed to explain the intended inputs, activities, outputs and outcomes, which guided this process evaluation design. Conclusion This process evaluation of a fall prevention programme for older Aboriginal people using a mixed methods design and data triangulation will allow for a comprehensive understanding of study findings. Multiple study sites allow for generalisability of findings and exploration of variation across sites. Trial registration number ACTRN12619000349145.
TL;DR: In this article, a comprehensive perspective of the impact of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) on people including needs for access to disease specific information, education, services, and care is presented.
Abstract: ObjectivesTo ascertain a comprehensive perspective of the impact of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) on people including needs for access to disease specific information, education, services, and ...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the cross-sectional relationship between CAF and objectively measured physical activity (PA) and gait quality in 503 community-dwelling older men and women.
Abstract: Concerns about falling (CAF) affect daily life activities in older people; however, it is unclear whether gender moderates this relationship. The authors investigated the cross-sectional relationship between CAF and objectively measured physical activity (PA) and gait quality in 503 community-dwelling older men and women. About 448 people (age = 76.2 [SD 7.9] years, 296 females) contributed sufficient data on movement intensity, activity duration (bouts of walking, sitting, and standing), number of transitions between activities (sit-to-stand and sit-to-walk), number of steps and gait quality, quantified as walking speed, and sample entropy. Associations with the Iconographical Falls Efficacy Scale were tested. The authors found no significant moderation by gender. However, women participated in less PA than men and showed a more irregular walking pattern. Higher levels of CAF led to lower PA and poorer gait quality. Our findings suggest that prevention of CAF-related PA avoidance may be particularly important for women, who are less active and at higher risk of falls.
TL;DR: In this article, the prevalence and level of concern about falling (CF) among older people with vision impairment due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) compared to a visually normal control group, and to identify determinants of CF for the AMD group.
TL;DR: In this article, the relationship between white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and cognitive and physical decline in people with dementia was investigated. And the authors proposed a treatment strategy to determine potential treatment strategies.
Abstract: Understanding the relationship between white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) and cognitive and physical decline in people with dementia will assist in determining potential treatment strategies. Cur...
01 Jan 2021
TL;DR: Effective interventions for reducing falls include exercise, multifactorial interventions, enhanced podiatry intervention, home safety occupational therapy interventions, medication review, expedited cataract extraction and daily or weekly vitamin D supplementation in people with low levels of vitamin D.
Abstract: Falls pose a major threat to the well-being and quality of life of older people. Over 90% of hip fractures result from a fall, and falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalization and death in people aged over 65 years. There is now robust evidence on fall risk factors and effective targeted intervention strategies to prevent falls in older people in a range of settings. This chapter provides a summary of fall risk assessment and fall prevention strategies for older people in community, hospital, and residential aged care facilities. Validated fall risk assessment tools can give a strong indication of a person’s risk of falling and can be incorporated into clinical practice. Effective interventions for reducing falls include exercise, multifactorial interventions, enhanced podiatry intervention, home safety occupational therapy interventions, medication review, expedited cataract extraction and daily or weekly vitamin D supplementation in people with low levels of vitamin D.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluated the performance of two algorithms, the inverted pendulum (IP) algorithm and a novel adaptation correcting for lateral step movement, which aimed to improve accuracy during slow walking.
Abstract: Walking speed is a strong indicator of the health status of older people and patients. Using algorithms, the walking speed can be estimated from wearable accelerometers, which enables minimally obtrusive (longitudinal) monitoring. We evaluated the performance of two algorithms, the inverted pendulum (IP) algorithm, and a novel adaptation correcting for lateral step movement, which aimed to improve accuracy during slow walking. To evaluate robustness, we gathered data from different groups (healthy adults, elderly, and elderly patients) of volunteers (n = 159) walking under various conditions (over ground, treadmill, using walking aids) at a broad range of speeds (0.11–1.93 m/s). Both of the algorithms showed good agreement with the reference values and similar root-mean-square errors (RMSEs) for walking speeds ≥0.5 m/s, which ranged from 0.09–0.16 m/s for the different positions, in line with the results from others. However, for slower walking, RMSEs were significantly better for the new method (0.06–0.09 m/s versus 0.15–0.19 m/s). Pearson correlation improved for speeds <0.5 m/s (from 0.67–0.72 to 0.73–0.82) as well as higher speeds (0.87–0.97 to 0.90–0.98) with the new method. Overall, we found that IP(-based) walking speed estimation proved to be applicable for a variety of wearing positions, conditions and speeds, indicating its potential value for health assessment applications.