A Mobile Tai Chi Platform for Fall Prevention in Older Adults

Project Summary The overall goal of the proposed work is to develop a platform capable of delivering and monitoring adherenceproficiencyand safety of a home based simplified Tai Chi intervention for older adultsDuring Phase I of this Fast Track STTR project we will further develop a novel approach to assessing Tai Chi performance adherenceproficiencyand safety based on wearable sensor dataMetrics of adherence and safety will be determinedA multi item proficiency scoring metric will be developed using a modified Delphi consensus processSubjects will be asked to perform movements in the laboratory from the simplified Tai Chi intervention while wearing a network of nine axis sensorsProficiency will be assessed by Tai Chi experts using the previously developed metricCollected data will be used to aid development of algorithms to predict adherenceproficiencyand safetySensitivity analyses will be performed to identify the minimum number of sensors necessary to achieve satisfactory resultsDuring Phase I we will also carry out stakeholder focus groups to inform the development of a user friendly Tele Tai Chi platformDuring Phase II of this Fast Track STTR project we will develop a user friendlyTele Tai Chiplatform via a user centered design approachTo accomplish this aimwe will develop a platform consisting of a wireless body sensor networka tablet computerto collect dataand provide instructions and feedbackand a webbased dashboardfor remote access to program dataAn iterative design approach will be employed based on the needs of the end user including practitionersTai Chi instructorsand researchersFocus groups will be employed to ascertain this information over the course of the projectNext we will demonstrate feasibility of tracking adherenceproficiency and safety over amonth training period in aconsecutive cohortsneachof older adultsFor this preliminary test of our platformsubjects will participate in aweek home based simplified Tai Chi program delivered via pre programed tabletssupplemented with laboratory visits at baselineandweeksSubjects will be asked to practice at home forminutes a minimum oftimes per weekInstumented laboratory visits willasimulate typical home practice sessions and provide additonal data on usability and inform estimates of adherence and proficiency algorithmsand ballow for longitudinal evaluation of function and postural controlwhich will be used to explore associations between platform derived measures of adherence and proficiency and fall risk Project Narrative Falls are the leading cause of injury related visits to emergency departments in the United States and the primary cause of accidental deaths in persons over the age ofyearsClinical trials support that Tai Chi is effective in the prevention of fallshoweverthis evidence has not translated into accessible training programs for older adultsThe proposed project aims to develop a platform capable of delivering and monitoring adherenceproficiencyand safety of an accessiblehome based Tai Chi program for older adults