Automated Assessment of Postural Stability (AAPS)
Abstract
The purpose of this proposal is to create a computerized system that can automatically administer and score the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS) test in common military settings. The BESS test is a standard clinical exam that measures a person s balance, which is critically important for military personnel. Many commonly sustained military injuries affect balance, either by directly wounding the lower limbs or indirectly through concussion. The BESS test assesses the severity of postural deficit and more importantly can be used to determine an injured Warfighter s fitness for returning to duty. Despite the clear utility of the BESS test, it is not often used in forward military settings because it must be administered and scored by specially trained clinicians who are typically not available in active military environments. We will address this problem by creating a computerized version of the BESS test. The core innovation is to exploit an inexpensive motion capture system; custom-built software will use body tracking data to measure a patient s lapses in balance and to score the BESS. The system will be self-contained and portable and will be designed such that it can be set up and operated by a minimally trained non-medical military serviceperson. The result will be the Automated Assessment of Postural Stability (AAPS) system that can be deployed in active, forward military settings without the need for specially trained clinical personnel. We will also create an expanded version of the AAPS system that can score dynamic movements such as reaches, lunges, and squats. We hypothesize that the ability to execute such movements is a better indicator of military readiness than the static poses used in the traditional BESS test. Our motion tracking software will score subjects as they produce various movements and identify any movement anomalies that suggest musculoskeletal injury or concussion. The benefit to US Warfighters is a robust, field-deployable system for assessing injury and determining suitability for return to service. The system will help identify personnel who require rehabilitation (thus reducing chances for re-injury) and help get healthy Warfighters back to work as soon as possible. Specific Aim 1: Develop AAPS Base System: Develop a fully functional proof-of-concept system, featuring a complete software suite for automatically administering and scoring the BESS test. Critically, the proof-of-concept system will also include the means for a minimally trained layperson to transport, unpackage, and set up the hardware and to administer the test. Specific Aim 2: AAPS Calibration and Baseline Evaluation: Calibrate the system by performing the BESS test using the AAPS on subjects who are healthy (control; n=50), acutely concussed (n=50), and with mild lower musculoskeletal injuries (n=35). Control group subjects will be tested both before and after physical exercise. Approximately 10% of subjects will be simultaneously tested using a commercial grade motion tracking system to facilitate AAPS calibration. Specific Aim 3: AAPS Field Evaluation: Field-test the system using minimally trained non-medical technicians from Temple Reserve Officer Training Corps. The system design will be modified repeatedly based on feedback from our military partners in order to conform to these conditions. Specific Aim 4: Develop Expanded xAAPS Test: This will allow measurement of dynamic postural tasks such as reaching, lunging, and squatting. Such a test could potentially improve estimates of balance deficits and can only be implemented in the field using a system such as the one we will create that can quantitatively measure posture. The xAAPS will undergo preliminary testing on 10 subjects.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 29, 2016
- Source ID
- W81XWH1510445
Entities
People
- Iyad Obeid
Organizations
- Temple University
- United States Army