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Table 1 Clinical assessment tools

From: Review of fall risk assessment in geriatric populations using inertial sensors

Assessment tool

Description

Barthel Index [29]

Ordinal scale that ranks subjects from 0 (total dependence) to 100 (total independence) based on 8 self-care and 2 mobility activities of daily living.

Fried’s Frailty Criteria [30]

Presence of 3 or more of 5 frailty indicators (significant and unintentional weight loss, grip weakness, poor endurance and energy, slow gait speed, low physical activity level).

Fukuda Test [31]

The person is blindfolded, extends both arms, and marches in place for 50 to 100 steps. Maximum body rotation greater than 30° indicates vestibular deficits.

Mini Motor Test [32]

20 item test that assesses abilities in bed (2 items), sitting position (3 items), standing position (9 items), and gait (6 items).

One Legged Stance Test [33]

Time a person can stand on one leg without upper extremity support and without bracing the suspended leg against the stance leg. Greater than 30 s indicates low fall risk and less than 5 s indicates high fall risk.

Physical Performance Test [34]

Ability to stand with feet together side-by-side, semi-tandem, and tandem; walk 8 ft; and rise from a chair and return to seated position.

Physiological Profile Assessment (PPA) [35]

Assessment of vision, peripheral sensation, muscle force, reaction time, and postural sway. Score of 0-1 = mild risk, 1-2 = moderate risk, and >2 = high risk of falling.

STRATIFY Score [36]

Assessment of 2 month fall history, mental alteration, frequent toileting, visual impairment, psychotropic medication use, and mobility issues. Score of <2 indicates increased fall risk.

Timed Up and Go (TUG) [37]

Time to stand up from an armchair, walk 3 m, turn, walk back to the chair, and sit down again. Times that exceed 14 s indicate increased fall risk for community dwelling elderly without neurological disorders.

Tinetti Assessment Tool [38]

Dynamic balance and gait evaluation with 10 balance components and 8 gait components. Overall scores <19 = high fall risk, 19-23 = moderate fall risk, > 23 = low fall risk. Maximum score = 40.