New Technologies for Enhancing Health in Older Adults

Primary outcomes

1. Balance and gait

   Time frame: Up to twelve weeks

   Tinetti. Completion time: 8-10 minutes. While walking behind the patient, the evaluator asks them to respond to the questions from the gait subscale. To answer the balance subscale, the interviewer stands next to the patient. A higher score indicates better functioning. The maximum score for the gait subscale is 12, and for the balance subscale, it is 16. The sum of both scores is used to assess the risk of falls. A higher score indicates a lower risk. A score of less than 19 signifies a high risk of falls.

2. Chair sit and reach test

   Time frame: Up to twelve weeks

   The test measures low back and hamstring flexibility. Sitting on a chair against a wall, one foot stays flat on the floor. Extend the other leg forward with knee straight, heel down, and ankle bent at 90°. Stack hands with middle fingers aligned. Inhale, then exhale while reaching toward toes without bouncing or pain. Keep back straight and head up, holding the stretch for 2 seconds. Measure distance between fingertips and toes: zero if touching, negative if not touching, positive if overlapping. Record to nearest 1/2 inch or 1 cm, noting which leg was used.

3. Back scratch test

   Time frame: Up to twelve weeks

   The shoulder range of motion test is conducted standing. Place one hand behind the head and over the shoulder, reaching down the middle of your back with palm touching your body and fingers pointing downwards. The other hand goes behind your back, palm out and fingers up, aiming to touch or overlap the middle fingers of both hands. An assistant aligns fingers and measures the distance between their tips. Score zero if fingertips touch, negative if not touching, positive if overlapping. Perform two practice attempts and two test attempts, stopping if pain occurs. Record the best score to the nearest centimeter or half inch for assessment.

4. 30 second chair stand test

   Time frame: Up to twelve weeks

   Evaluates lower extremity strength. To perform the chair stand test: Use a chair with a 44 cm high seat and no armrests, secured against a wall. Ensure consistency by using the same chair for future tests. Participants should wear comfortable sports or walking shoes. Sit with feet flat on the floor, shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent over 90 degrees, and heels closer to the chair than knees. Cross arms over chest. Start the stopwatch and instruct the participant to stand up fully and sit down, counting each cycle as one repetition within 30 seconds. If the 30-second mark aligns mid-action (standing up or sitting down), count it as a full repetition. Participants can rest during the test, but timing continues until 30 seconds elapsed.