title: Longitudinal evaluation of balance quality using a modified bathroom scale: usability and acceptability.
abstract: We adapted a commercial bathroom scale in order to acquire the raw data from the weight sensors and then to send them to a server via a mobile phone. We investigated the usability and acceptability of the device in a long-term experiment with 22 elderly users that produced more than 5000 weight recordings. Four basic variables were extracted from the vertical force measurements and the stabilogram. The technology was accepted unreservedly, presumably because it did not differ from devices usually encountered in the home. The quantitative results showed a high variability of day-to-day measurement, which was countered by taking a moving average. A balance index was able to identify changes in balance over time. The preliminary results appear promising.
authors: ICD-LM2S UMR CNRS 6279, Université de Technologie de Troyes, France. jacques.duchene@utt.fr
authors: Jacques
authors: J
authors: Duchêne
authors: David J
authors: DJ
authors: Hewson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013686:Telemetry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D059015:Wireless Technology