A new method to objectively observe the function of orhtopaedic patients.

The patient of today has higher requirements compared to 20 years ago. For these reasons new objective functional assessment tools are needed. At the moment function is assessed visually by the doctor or by questionnaires which have to be filled in by the patient it selves, which are subjective and not accurate. Previous performed studies used accelerometers for several targets. Based on the promising results of these studies, accelerometers seem appropriate methods to objectively and acurately analyse function of orthopaedic patients. In this study, we will use the accelerometer while observing the mobility in orthopaedic patients during the polyclinic visits.

The use of an objective device (accelerometer) to analyse function is more accurate than the currently used methods (observing by eyes).

An accelerometer, attached to the sacrum of the subject using an elastic belt, measures accelerations in 3 directions when the doctor observes the patient as usual (walk ability, sit to stand, balancing...). The objective outcome will be compared with the doctors observation and questionnaires.