Agencies
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Agencies | Updated : May 10, 2014 1:31 PM IST
Researchers have developed a smartphone app which monitors chronic heart and lung patients by analyzing the way they walk.
GaitTrack, an app developed by researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the U. of I. at Chicago, turns a smartphone into a sophisticated medical device.
Unlike other apps that merely count steps, GaitTrack uses eight motion parameters to perform a detailed analysis of a person's gait, or walking pattern, which can tell physicians much about a patient's cardiopulmonary, muscular and neurological health.
The team was bed by Bruce Schatz, the head of medical information science and a professor of computer science at the U. of I.
According to Schatz, gait is sometimes called the 'sixth vital sign' after temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate and blood oxygen level. Also read why hypertension is dangerous.
Gait speed involves several systems of the body working together in coordination, so changes in gait can be a sign of trouble in one or more systems.
The findings are published in the journal Telemedicine and e-Health.
Source: ANI
For more articles on diseases & conditions , visit our diseases & conditions section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.
