How do I set up for a motion capture fall risk assessment through Pathways?

Preparing for a motion capture fall risk assessment is an important step toward understanding your health and safety. However, these assessments are optional and may not be a good fit for everyone. If you’re unsure if you have the necessary space or equipment, that’s okay—this guide will help you decide if the assessment is right for you and show you how to set up if you choose to proceed.

• Choose a Clear, Well-Lit Area
• Position Your Device
• Enable Device Permissions
• Check Your Clothing
• Choose Your Chair and Nearby Stable Object
• FAQs

Choose a Clear, Well-Lit Area

• You’ll need at least 6 feet of clear, open space between you and your device. There should be nothing blocking the view of you on camera (such as open doors, boxes on the floor, etc).
• Keep the area clear of other people or animals.
• Make sure you are in a well-lit area. Excessive shadows or backlighting could make it difficult for your movements to be accurately captured.
  
  Note: A quick test to confirm if you are well-lit is to turn your device’s camera on and stand several feet from the camera. When you look at your face on your device’s screen, you should be able to clearly see your facial features. If you’re in silhouette or heavily shadowed, you may need to adjust your space for improved lighting.

Position Your Device

• Set up your device on a stable surface. You can use a laptop or a mobile device with a stand.
• The assessment will include visual and audio clues, so ensure your device’s screen and audio are working properly and that you can see and hear it clearly.
• Your device will need a functioning camera to record your movements.

Enable Device Permissions

• Enable camera permissions on your device. This will usually be in your browser's settings.
• We suggest using a Chromium-based browser (such as Chrome or Edge). If you're unsure how to enable permissions, refer to your browser's help documentation (for example: How to enable camera permissions in Chrome).
  
  Note: While you may use other browsers to access Pathways, please note only Chromium-based browsers are officially supported.

Check Your Clothing

• Wear high-contrast clothing to help the motion capture system track your movements. For example, if you have a light background, you may want to wear dark clothing.
• We recommend that you wear form fitting clothing and that your shoes or feet be clearly visible in order to ensure the system can clearly track your movements. For example, floor length skirts or dresses will make it difficult for the system to track your legs and feet.

Choose Your Chair and Nearby Stable Object

• If you’re performing the Sit-to-Stand test, we recommend that you use a chair with no arm rests and a seat height of about 17 inches (like a standard dining chair). Avoid using chairs with wheels or unstable bases.
• We recommend that you also have another stable object nearby, such as another chair, in case you lose your balance during the assessment.

If you cannot meet the setup requirements or feel unsure about proceeding, speak with your clinician for alternative ways to evaluate your fall risk.

FAQs

Q: What if I don’t meet any of the requirements for the assessment (I don’t have six feet of space, don’t have a mobile device or laptop with camera, etc)?

If you cannot meet the setup requirements or feel unsure about proceeding, the motion capture assessments may not be for you. Speak with your clinician for alternative ways to evaluate your fall risk.

Q: The assessment says “Not In Frame.” What should I do?

“Not In Frame” indicates that you are not correctly positioned for the system to begin mapping your movements. Make sure you are at least six feet away from your device and that, in the video, you are fully visible from your neck to your feet. It’s okay if your face is not in frame.

Q: The assessment said I lost my balance or fell but I didn’t.

If the system thinks it sees a possible loss of balance or other movement that may indicate a fall, it will flag the event. This may happen in error if your movements were unclear to the camera. When the assessment asks you to select what happened, you can indicate if you did or did not lose your balance or fall.

Q: The assessment says "Oops, something isn't working." What should I do?

This message appears when the system is unable to track your movements accurately.

Common reasons include:

• Lighting issues such as shadows when moving or backlighting.
• The camera being unable to clearly see your full body, especially your feet and legs.
• Misalignment with the camera and the expected body positioning such as sitting or standing at an angle.
• Poor or interrupted internet signal.

It can help to ensure your space is well-lit and free of clutter or background movement, that your internet connection is stable, and that you’re matching the example assessment position as accurately as possible. If the issue persists, try restarting the test or changing locations.