Fall-risk classification of the timed up-and-go test with principle component analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to show that important fall risk measures among the elderly can be classified using multiple parameters obtained from wearable inertial sensors. The timed up-and-go (TUG) test, a well-known standard assessment test, was used to evaluate the risk of falling among elderly individuals. The use of wearable inertial sensors enables extraction of triaxial acceleration and angular velocity signals for offline analysis. Thirty-eight elderly patients from Fujimoto Hayasuzu Hospital participated in this study. Specific results were provided from the signals obtained from acceleration and angular velocity, and analysis was carried out in each phase of various activities, such as sit-to-stand, walking, etc. Seventy-eight parameters were obtained from the extracted acceleration and angular velocity signals in all phases to classify the risk of falling among the elderly. Using principle component analysis, the most important measures were selected from the gathered parameters. The most influential measure in differentiating subjects with high and low fall risks was the turning angular velocity signal.