Design of a low-cost prototype for the detection of falls in people with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease that mainly affects the central nervous system, causing wear and tear on myelin in the spinal cord and manifesting itself in the form of inflammatory events, causing chronic mobility impairment and thus reducing the quality of life of people. Currently, the development of technologies for assistance is a fundamental part to improve the quality of life of people and their inclusion. Statistically, it is known that many people worldwide do not have access to technology for different reasons, such as politics and economics, the environment in which they live, which represents an obstacle to inclusion and therefore, in their development. This article presents the design of a low-cost prototype to detect possible falls, through a device to monitor sudden movements and send alerts, for people with gait disorders, mainly in advanced stages of the disease, since it is considered the moment with the most affectation and when the majority of those who suffer from it are limited to staying at home and where their personal dependence begins.