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Dynamic Balance measures using a Kinect Camera; a validation study

Comparing functional reach and sit to stand test using traditional and technological data collection methods in healthy adults

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ANZCTR
Registry ID
ACTRN12615000424505
Enrollment
23
Registered
2015-05-05
Start date
2015-05-28
Completion date
Unknown
Last updated
2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

Data collection using new technology has the capacity to improve the efficiency of data collection and reduce transcription errors in large data sets. As well, it has potential clinical relevance for management of client assessment and re-assessments. Functional reach is a validated measure of dynamic balance that is used for measuring limits of stability in response to a self-generated perturbation. It is widely used for a variety of clinical populations and compares well with other balance measures for clinical utility. Traditionally values are measured by a clinician reading values from a tape measure or ruler adjacent to the client. New motion capture software and cameras has the capacity to improve efficiency in both research and clinical contexts by accurately measuring, recording and storing information. As well, costs for this commercially available technology have reduced dramatically in recent times, making it cost-effective for a wide range of practical applications. The Kinect camera has been validated for range of motion, and several functional tasks like Timed Up and Go, however, to date no validation studies have been done using the Kinect for windows to compare its accuracy and clinical utility in a dynamic balance task. Recent advances in camera technology (last 5 months) have increased the sensitivity of motion capture and allowed us to test it in this way. Previously published validation studies using this technology are typically small Potential advantages include: *Reduced time for data collection *Improved storage of data *Reduced data collection time *Easy ability to securely gain and store data The aim of this project is to determine if the new camera technology is *accurate and * reliable

Interventions

Participants will be requested to perform the functional reach test 3 times with each arm (arm parallel to the floor) in front of a Kinect camera in standing. A wash out period of 5 minutes between trials will be used to ensure no fatigue. Participants will then be requested to stand from a sitting position as many times as they can in 30 seconds, with the number of repetitions counted by the camera software.

Sponsors

The University of Tasmania
Lead SponsorUniversity

Study design

Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Diagnosis
Masking
Open (masking not used)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

Healthy adults recruited from university staff and student population

Exclusion criteria

Inability to stand unaided for 5 minutes. Less than 90 degrees motion at each shoulder joint Lower limb amputation Current or past neurological condition

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ANZCTR · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026