You are being invited to take part in a research study that is being carried out by Dr. Sean Mc Auliffe, Assistant Professor in Physiotherapy at the School of Medicine in Trinity College Dublin.
Why is the study being done?
We are undertaking this study to determine if a digital phone application has similar accuracy to a traditional human assessment of the total time taken to perform a timed up and go test in a group of individuals with a neurological condition. The timed up and go test is a commonly used test to assess mobility across a range of health care settings. You will be required to stand up from a standard chair (seat Height between 44 and 47 cm), walk a distance of 3 meters (marked on the floor) at a comfortable pace, turn, walk back and sit down (Figure 1). You will be asked to repeat the same procedure for a distance of 10 meters. You will be asked to perform two trials at each distance (3m and 10m). You are permitted to use walking aids if you currently use one. No physical assistance is given and you are instructed not to use your arms to stand up. The time to complete the task is measured with a stopwatch. Timing commences on the command ‘go’ and stops when the your back is positioned against the back of the chair after sitting down.
What is involved?
The study involves taking part in a mobility test named the Timed up and go test. This test is commonly used by physiotherapists to look at mobility in people with a neurological condition. The study aims to determine if, when carried out in a population with a neurological condition, a smartphone application is similar in accuracy to the traditional method of carrying out this timed up and go test.
How will the study be carried out?
The study will take place at the MS Ireland Tara House, Dooradoyle, Co. Limerick. Testing is a once off test and will be arranged at a time of your convenience. During the test you will be asked to perform a mobility test known as the Timed up and go Test. During the test, participants are asked to stand up from a standard chair (seat Height between 44 and 47 cm), walk a distance of 3m (marked on the floor) at a comfortable pace, turn, walk back and sit down. The time taken to perform the test will be recorded by the smartphone application and by an assessor using a stopwatch. You will repeat the test also for a distance of 10 meters. You will be asked to carry out a survey detailing how you found using the application. The results are recorded and analysed thereafter.