iCap: Instrumented assessment of physical capability.
OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to (i) investigate instrumented physical capability (iCap) as a valid method during a large study and (ii) determine whether iCap can provide important additional features of postural control and gait to categorise cohorts not previously possible with manual recordings.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis involving instrumented testing on 74 adults who were recruited as part of a pilot intervention study; LiveWell. Participants wore a single accelerometer-based monitor (lower back) during standardised physical capability tests so that outcomes could be compared directly with manual recordings (stopwatch and measurement tape) made concurrently.


METHODS
Time, distance, postural control and gait characteristics.


RESULTS
Agreement between manual and iCap ranged from moderate to excellent (0.649-0.983) with mean differences between methods low and deemed acceptable. Additionally, iCap successfully quantified (i) postural control characteristics which showed sensitivity to distinguish between 5 variations of the standing balance test and (ii) 14 gait characteristics known to be sensitive to age/pathology.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show that iCap can provide robust quantitative data about physical capability during standardised tests while also providing sensitive (age/pathology) postural control and gait characteristics not previously quantifiable with manual recordings. The methodology which we propose may have practical utility in a wide range of clinical and public health surveys and studies, including intervention studies, where assessment could be undertaken within diverse settings. This will need to be tested in further validation studies in a wider range of settings.
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Clinical Ageing Research Unit, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Godfrey
Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Lara
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Clinical Ageing Research Unit, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Del Din
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Clinical Ageing Research Unit, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Hickey
Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Munro
Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Wiuff
Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Chowdhury
Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Human Nutrition Research Centre, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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Mathers
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Clinical Ageing Research Unit, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing & Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. Electronic address: lynn.rochester@ncl.ac.uk.
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Rochester
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*
Accelerometer; Endurance; Gait speed; Lower limb strength; Standing balance; TUG