Using inertial measurement units (IMUs) to detect mobility declines in middle aged individuals Health & Human Sciences Academic Year 2023 Accepted Mobility Decline Valid and reliable assessments of mobility are routinely used in clinics to track patient progress, assess the need for assistive devices, and predict risk of falling. These tests require patients to perform tasks that span varying degrees of difficulty so that therapists can observe changes in mobility and balance that occur as a function of age and neurological disease. Evidence suggests that subtle gait changes which begin in middle-age can predict the future onset of mobility difficulties. However, standard clinical tests which rely on visual observation are designed to capture easily observable balance and gait problems in patients, rather than small changes that begin in middle-age. In this study we will examine mobility changes that occur as a function of age using a common clinical test, the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) in both middle-aged and young adults. Participants will complete the FGA while wearing small sensors, called inertial measurement units (IMUs) on each ankle and the trunk. We will examine how gait patterns change as a function of gait difficulty. These sensors are specifically designed to capture subtle changes in movements. Using IMUs to capture changes in gait patterns of middle-aged participants may help to identify those who are at future risk of having mobility difficulties and significant health risk. Jeffrey M Haddad Students will be needed for all phases of the research project including data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The ability to interact with human research participants and collect ethical research data. 3 0 (estimated)

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