Abstract
Leg muscle power is a major determinant of daily life activities, such as walking and standing up from a chair. Measurement of leg muscle power provides insight into the functional status of older adults. However, the measurement devices that are currently being used for the measurement of leg muscle power have clinical and practical limitations. Therefore, new measurement devices are needed for the assessment of leg muscle power in older adults.
In this dissertation an innovative method has been developed for the estimation of the vertical power that is produced by the leg muscles during the sit-to-stand movement. The measurement method is based on small body-fixed motion sensors. The new sensor-based method has been evaluated on clinical validity in older adults.
Results show that the sensor-based method is clinically relevant. In particular when the sensor is worn on the chest. The sensor-based method is reliable, indicative of important aspects of functional status, and it can discriminate between higher and lower functioning older adults. In addition, the sensor-based method is sensitive to the effects of power training. The sensor-based method seems to have a comparable or higher clinical relevance than measurement methods currently being used in clinical research.
The innovative sensor-based method is relevant for application in clinical and scientific research. For example, the sensor-based method can be used to evaluate intervention effects or to identify lower functioning individuals. Future research focuses on the development of a sensor-based method for the measurement of power during daily life activities in the home-environment.
In this dissertation an innovative method has been developed for the estimation of the vertical power that is produced by the leg muscles during the sit-to-stand movement. The measurement method is based on small body-fixed motion sensors. The new sensor-based method has been evaluated on clinical validity in older adults.
Results show that the sensor-based method is clinically relevant. In particular when the sensor is worn on the chest. The sensor-based method is reliable, indicative of important aspects of functional status, and it can discriminate between higher and lower functioning older adults. In addition, the sensor-based method is sensitive to the effects of power training. The sensor-based method seems to have a comparable or higher clinical relevance than measurement methods currently being used in clinical research.
The innovative sensor-based method is relevant for application in clinical and scientific research. For example, the sensor-based method can be used to evaluate intervention effects or to identify lower functioning individuals. Future research focuses on the development of a sensor-based method for the measurement of power during daily life activities in the home-environment.
| Original language | English |
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| Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
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| Supervisors/Advisors |
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| Award date | 4-Nov-2015 |
| Place of Publication | [Groningen] |
| Publisher | |
| Print ISBNs | 978-90-367-8196-1 |
| Electronic ISBNs | 978-90-367-8195-4 |
| Publication status | Published - 2015 |