A Falls Risk Screening Tool Based on Millimetre-Wave Radar

Elif Dogu, José A. Paredes, Akram Alomainy, Janelle M. Jones, Khalid Z. Rajab

Abstract: Falls among the older adults pose a global health concern, necessitating innovative approaches for timely and effective falls risk screening. Aiming to develop a real-time falls risk screening tool, this study explores the integration of millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar technology with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, which is a widely used screening tool that combines parameters measuring a person’s dynamic balance and functional mobility. Radar technology has emerged as a promising tool for non-intrusive, continuous monitoring of movements – including gait patterns and mobility – in real-life scenarios. By leveraging Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave (FMCW) radar, the study assesses its performance against video recordings in TUG completion time measurement. The completion time, conventionally measured manually with a timer in clinical settings, was derived from radar measurements using two different methods based on distance, and micro-Doppler (i.e. velocity). Results indicate rada