Calculating and presenting biomechanical functional demand in older adults during activities of daily living

Rowe, P.J. and Hood, V.L. and Loudon, D. and Samuel, D. and Nicol, A.C. and Macdonald, A. and Conway, B.A. (2005) Calculating and presenting biomechanical functional demand in older adults during activities of daily living. 3rd IASTED International Conference on Biomechanics- BioMech 2005 . ACTA Press. ISBN 0-88986-532-9 (http://www.actapress.com/PaperInfo.aspx?PaperID=21...)

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Abstract

The functional demand placed on older adults while conducting activities of daily life is of concern to a number of health professionals and designers as well as the client and their carer. In this study we attempted to produce a first generation model of the human subject in motion performing activities of daily living and to use Isometric strength data measured using a perpose built dynamometer and biomechanical functional movement data recorded with a VICON movement analysis system to express and visually present the functional demand placed on the various joints of the human body while executing the 5 daily living tasks. Data from 84 older adults subjects from Glasgow, Scotland, UK, was recorded and included in the model. It was found helpful to represent the level of demand placed on the joint by a variable colour sphere located at the joint which changed from gree through yellow and orange to red with increasing levels of demand. The project has shown that with this system it is possible to visually portray complex biomechanical and strength data data to a variety of users and professionals in a simple, understandable, scientific and suitably analytical manner.

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