Clinical feasibility trial of a motion detection system for fall prevention in hospitalized older adult patients.

The purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility of a wireless 5-sensor, motion detection system (5S-MDS) with hospitalized older adults. Interventions to prevent hospital-based falls in older adults are important to reduce morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Wearable motion sensors, which track and wirelessly transmit body movements, may identify human movement patterns that immediately precede falls, thus allowing early prevention.

A pilot study testing a fall prevention intervention for older adults: determining the feasibility of a five-sensor motion detection system.

Interventions to prevent hospital-based falls in older adults are critically important to reduce morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the accuracy and acceptability of a wireless five-sensor motion detection system (5S-MDS) for detecting falls. Wearable motion sensors, which measure and integrate movement in space, may identify human movement patterns that immediately precede falls, thus allowing prevention.