Affiliations: Centre for Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Phil Joddrell, Centre for Assistive Technology and Connected Healthcare, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Room 1.06, The Innovation Centre, 217 Portobello, Sheffield, S1 4DP, UK. E-mail: p.joddrell@sheffield.ac.uk.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Walking speed predicts important clinical outcomes in older adults and is one of the most significant indicators of frailty. OBJECTIVE: To test whether it is feasible to measure walking speed frequently and unobtrusively in the home. METHODS: A longitudinal feasibility study was conducted comprising the installation and monitoring of continuous measurement walking speed sensors in twenty frail older adults’ homes for a period of twelve weeks (eighteen participants completed the study). Manual walking speed, frailty level and health status were measured at four-weekly intervals. Qualitative interviews were conducted at the end of the study to assess participants’ attitudes to the sensors and to the concept of continuous in-home walking speed measurement. RESULTS: There was a high degree of variance to the number of walking speed measurements recorded by each participant’s sensor (median 1942.39, range 2-3617). Participants indicated acceptability of both the sensor within the home and the concept of in-home walking speed measurement. CONCLUSIONS: Where regular measurement was achieved, the results indicate that walking speed might be better viewed as a distribution rather than a single figure, taking into account the natural variation to walking speed in daily life. This study demonstrates the feasibility of continuous ambient in-home walking speed monitoring of older adults with a low-cost, easily deployed device.
Keywords: Walking speed, digital health technology, health monitoring, frailty, older people
