Self Mobility Improvement in the Elderly by Counteracting Falls (SMILING)

The inclusion criteria are:

Self-reported information

• age ≥ 65 years,
• able to walk at least 20 meters independently, i.e., without personal assistance and without an assistive device, except for a single point cane
• one or more falls in the previous year (falls during sport activities excluded).

Standardized physical and cognitive functional tests

• Tinetti's POMA score below 26 (strictly)
• MMSE test with score ≥ 24
• GDS test with score <10

The exclusion criteria are:

• Self-reported information
• age < 65 years
• inability to walk 20 meters safely (self-report) or walk with personal assistance or with an assistive device (except single point cane for fallers)
• inability to recall fall status in the previous year
• severe visual impairment (e.g., impaired ability to read, watch TV, or drive a car)
• severe hearing impairment (e.g., unable to follow a conversation, to use a phone)
• Standardized physical and cognitive functional tests
• Tinetti's POMA score less than 19
• MMSE score < 24
• GDS test with score ≥ 10
• Medical conditions (filled in by the family doctor of the subject)
• wearing a pacemaker, a cardiac defibrillator or any other electronic implant
• severe gait impairment precluding safe walking over 20 meters due to:
• focal lower limb muscle weakness or palsy (e.g., unable to raise leg/foot from floor)
• neurological diseases, including diseases such as severe Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis, status post stroke with hemi-syndroma, cervical or lumbar stenosis with compression myelopathy, polyneuropathy with severe proprioceptive impairment, Menier
• severe cardiovascular disease
• foot problems, lower limb amputation or joint arthrodesis
• terminal diseases (defined as estimated life expectancy of less than 6 months).