title: Human balance estimation using a wireless 3D acceleration sensor network.
abstract: Balance and gait are a consequence of complex coordination between muscles, nerves, and central nervous system structures. The impairment of these functions can pose serious threats to independent living, especially in the elderly. This study was carried out to evaluate the performance of a wireless acceleration sensor network and its capability in balance estimation. The test has been carried out in eight patients and seven healthy controls. The Patients group had larger values in lateral amplitudes of the sensor displacement and smaller values in vertical displacement amplitudes of the sensor. The step time variations for the Patients were larger than those for the controls. A fuzzy logic and clustering classifiers were implemented, which gave promising results suggesting that a person with balance deficits can be recognized with this system. We conclude that a wireless system is easier to use than a wired one and more unobtrusive to the user.
authors.affiliation: VTT, PO Box 1100, 90571 Oulu, Finland. heidi.simila@vtt.fi
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Similä
authors.forename: Jouni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kaartinen
authors.forename: Mikko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lindholm
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saarinen
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mahjneh
mesh_terms: D000054:Acceleration; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D006801:Humans; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013686:Telemetry / Q000295:instrumentation*