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Session: Poster session II
Session starts: Thursday 24 January, 16:00

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Mike van Diest (Innovation Centre for Advanced Sensors and Sensor Systems, INCAS3, Dr. Nassaulaan 9, 9401 HJ, Assen, The Netherlands. University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen)
Claudine Lamoth (Center for Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713 AV Groningen)
Jan Stegenga (Innovation Centre for Advanced Sensors and Sensor Systems, INCAS3, Dr. Nassaulaan 9, 9401 HJ, Assen, The Netherlands)
Klaas Postema (Dept of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands)
Bart Verkerke (Dept of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands. Dept of Biomechanical Engineering, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands)

Abstract:
Background. Fall injuries are responsible for significant disability, physical dysfunction and loss of independence among elderly. A major risk factor for falls in the elderly population is poor postural control. Fall incidence can be reduced through balance training programs[1,2]. Therapy adherence however is low, particularly when prevention is the goal[3]. To increase motivation for balance training and make a training more accessible we aim to develop a balance training game system, a so-called exergame (=exercise and game), for the home situation thereby quantifying balance ability of elderly during training activities. However, current (clinical) quantifications of postural control are not applicable during activities[4, 5]. Therefore the aim of the present study was to develop parameters based on motion caption that can be used to quantify balance ability during exergaming among young and elderly. Methods. 9 elderly and 6 young adults performed a 1-minute weight shifting exergame task in the frontal plane under 16 different conditions in 5 task domains in a CAREN lab (Computer Assisted Rehabilitation Environment, Motek Medical BV). The task domains included: higher sway amplitude, faster sway, faster object dodging, lifting one leg, higher dodge difficulty. Position of trunk, pelvis and lower limbs as well as ground reaction forces were recorded using a motion capture system (VICON V8) and force plates (Bertec FP4060-08) respectively. Task and age effects of sway amplitude, movement regularity (Harmonicity ratio and peak power spectrum), root mean square (RMS) values and Sample Entropy (SE) of the trunk motion were calculated. Results. Trunk sway and RMS values were higher for young adults then for elderly, for all task conditions. Harmonicity ratio, movement frequency and sample entropy were also higher in young adults, indicating a faster and smoother movement then that of elderly. Several task effects were found which need further analysis. Conclusions and further work. Preliminary data analysis showed several interesting condition and age effects. In combination with force plate data the selected parameters can be used to quantify balance during an exergame. Keywords: exergames, postural control, balance parameters, healthy aging