A Survey of Fall Prevention Systems Implemented on Smart Walkers

A large number of people die around the world in consequence of a fall. The costs related to fatal and nonfatal falls have an enormous impact on society and have been growing over the years. There are several risk factors that increase the probability of falling, such as poor balance and lower extremity weakness. Patients with balance impairment, in order to overcome these problems, use walkers. The aim of this work is to do an analysis of the fall-related strategies already implemented in a smart walker. Therefore, an online search was performed based on the literature through Scopus and Web of Science databases. A study was also conducted on a commercial level on Google, as well as a patent review on Espacenet and United States Trademark Office. It was possible to conclude that exist a concern related to the development of an approach to prevent the fall event. However, the only implemented strategy that was found throughout this research consists in stopping the walker when a near fall is detected.