A Basic Study on the Relationship Between Indices for Fall Risk Evaluation in Hemiplegic Patients

Abstract

Hemiplegia reduce the ability to walk independently and may lead to falls. Thus, fall risk assessment is important for precautionary measure. As the evaluation index of fall risk, asymmetry ratio of step time (ASY_step), standard deviation of step time (SD_step), and coefficient of variation of the root mean square waist acceleration (RMS_CV) are reported. However, since the standard deviation of each index is large, it is difficult to evaluate the risk with a single index. In this study, gaits for 10 hemiplegic and healthy subjects were measured using inertial sensors and relationships between ASY_step, SD_step, and RMS_CV were examined. As a result, there was no difference in RMS_CV between hemiplegic and healthy subjects. Although some subjects had ASY_step within the range of fallers, they had SD_step within the range of non-fallers. Since there are various causes of falls reflected in each index, it is necessary to evaluate using multiple indices.