This paper presents a new inherently triaxial accelerometer-based system for determining the ability to maintain balance while standing. In this study, the accelerometer was placed at the back of the subject at the approximate height of the centre of mass. The data were processed to obtain five performance parameters. Paired t-tests indicated that the accelerometer measurements were able to distinguish between the different test conditions as well as or better than simultaneous AMTI force platform measurements (P < or = 0.05). The accelerometer system is fully portable, independent of inclination in space, low-cost and allows long term measurements of standing balance.
Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science B.V.