Abstract
This study was performed to examine the effects of weekly exercise in subjects classified as support_1 according to the Japanese health care insurance system. We evaluated the ability of eight elderly subjects to walk using wireless inertia sensors with an embedded triaxial accelerometer and angular velocity sensor. The subjects participated in training once a week and were evaluated once a month over a study period of 3 months. Wearable motion sensors were attached to the lower back and both thighs of each subject. The subjects performed high-performance walking over a distance of 10 m. The speed, cadence, gait cycle, thigh pitch angle, and autocorrelation function on the lower back were determined. The subjects attained high-performance walking sooner after 3 months. Although most of the subjects showed an improvement in walking ability, there were no significant improvements in the cadence gait cycle or autocorrelation function. Exercise once a week can significantly improve the ability of elderly subjects to walk. Thus, home exercise is recommended to improve walking ability in the elderly.
