Meta-analysis of the quantitative assessment of lower extremity motor function in elderly individuals based on objective detection

Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 2024 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-024-01409-7 · Published: June 20, 2024

Aging Rehabilitation Biomedical

Simple Explanation

This study examines different objective methods for assessing lower limb motor function in older adults to avoid the limitations of traditional scales. The research analyzes data from studies using motion sensors, gait analysis, IMUs, and 3D motion capture systems to evaluate changes in walking speed and step length. The goal is to find standardized ways to accurately measure motor function, helping to prevent injuries and improve rehabilitation approaches for the aging population.

Study Duration

5 years (literature search period)

Participants

2626 elderly individuals

Evidence Level

Meta-analysis of 19 randomized controlled trials

Key Findings

1
IMUs, motion sensors, 3D motion capture systems, and observational gait analysis can effectively assess changes in step velocity and step length in elderly individuals.
2
Sensors and 3D motion capture systems show low heterogeneity, indicating high standardization and reliability in clinical applications.
3
IMUs and observational gait analysis exhibit high heterogeneity, suggesting variations in calculation methods and indicators used across different studies.

Research Summary

This meta-analysis evaluated the accuracy of different objective methods for assessing lower extremity motor function in elderly individuals using data from 19 randomized controlled trials. The study found that IMUs, motion sensors, 3D motion capture systems, and observational gait analysis are statistically significant in evaluating step velocity and step length. The study concludes that while these methods are valuable, the high heterogeneity in gait analysis and IMUs suggests a need for standardized indicators and integrated multimodal quantitative evaluation.

Practical Implications

Clinical Assessment

Provides clinicians with evidence-based insights into the accuracy and reliability of various objective methods for assessing lower extremity motor function in elderly individuals.

Standardization of Methods

Highlights the need for standardized calculation formulas and indicators in gait analysis and IMU-based assessments to improve consistency across clinical applications.

Multimodal Integration

Advocates for the integration of multimodal quantitative evaluation methods to achieve a better understanding of age-related differences in motor characteristics and improve therapeutic targets for motor function impairment.

Study Limitations

1
Small number of included studies and small overall sample size may limit the efficacy of the meta-analysis results.
2
Inclusion of some small sample studies may affect the credibility of the results.
3
Possible sources of heterogeneity were not conclusively identified despite subgroup analysis.

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