A new device to assess gait velocity at home

Rana Jaber (1) , Aly Chkeir (1) , David Hewson (1) , Jacques Duchene (1)

1 LM2S - Laboratoire Modélisation et Sûreté des Systèmes

This paper presents a technological device that is able to estimate gait velocity in non-controlled conditions, specifically at home. Based on a Doppler sensor, it provides an instantaneous signal of velocity, hence an estimation of the average velocity on a short distance (3 m). Comparison with the results produced by usual clinical tests (time measured manually on 4.5 m or 10 m) shows an excellent correlation (R2 >0.93), even though signal processing is achieved in a rudimentary manner. In addition, instantaneous recordings open the way towards extraction of other gait features like gait regularity and quality. Such a device can be used to assess frailty and risk of fall in the elderly in ecological conditions.

Domains: Engineering Sciences [physics]

Rana Jaber, Aly Chkeir, David Hewson, Jacques Duchene. A new device to assess gait velocity at home. XIII Mediterranean Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing 2013 (MEDICON 2013), Sep 2013, Seville, Spain. pp.1503-1506, ⟨10.1007/978-3-319-00846-2_371⟩. ⟨hal-02585989⟩