This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
New technology to help tackle frailty
The NHS is to trial new wearable sensors to better identify elderly patients at risk of falls as part of a new drive to tackle frailty.
The technology, based on that used by NASA and the CGI film industry, monitors the way a patient walks and produces a personalised exercise prescription programme for them, which studies have shown to decrease the risk of falls.
A recent Age UK report claimed that one-in-three people aged over 65 suffer a fall that can cause serious injury, costing the NHS an estimated £6 million a day.
Brian Caulfield, professor of Physiotherapy at University College Dublin, where the system was tested, said: “If people are analysed in a lab, they don’t tend to walk in a normal way, so this technology gives an enormous advantage by moving patients into more familiar surroundings, such as their home or GP surgery. This is the exact same technology we have used with professional rugby players, and in testing with the European Space Agency, but it has huge potential to make a significant difference to vulnerable older patients as well.”
The announcement coincided with the joint guidance for GPs on the frailty requirements of the general practice contract - https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/supporting-routine-frailty-identi...
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