I-CORPS program for balance assessment and fall risk in the elderly

PROJECT SUMMARY ABSTRACT ! There is a looming social and economic liability with a growing elderly populationAnnuallya staggeringmillion elderly are treated in emergency departments for fall injuriesFalls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury and the primary cause of accidental death in adults overyearsImpaired balanceparticularly in the lateral directionis one of the most important risk factors for fallsUnfortunatelycommon clinical tests of balance are not sensitive to impairmentsThis lack of sensitivity makes it difficult to monitor changes in balance control that may increase a personandapos s fall riske gfollowing a change in medicationThereforethere is a critical need for more sensitive tests to assess balanceWe have shown that delays in neuromuscular control result in instabilityThis work along with the fact that elderly have slower postural adjustments prompted our research group to develop a test to assess speed of balance controlWe have shown that speed of balance control can be reliably assessedis sensitive to subtle impairments in balance not found with common clinical testsand has ecological validity as demonstrated by predicting performance in common daily activities known to be predictive of fallsThe product of this SBIR is a low costeasy to use system to assess speed of balance control and predict fall riskIn this supplemental awardthree members of the research team will attend the National I CorpsTM program and performor more customer discovery interviewsBy conducting these interviewswe will increase the breadth and depth of knowledge of the various healthcare ecosystems involved in reducing falls in the elderly and identify pain points and barriers for clinical adoption of our balance assessment technologyThis information will be important for learning who and what will drive or resist technology adoption!Project Narrative In this supplemental awardthree members of the Phase I SBIR research team will attend the National ICorpsTM program and performor more customer discovery interviewsThese interviews will be important for learning who and what will drive or resist technology adoption!