Abstract—This paper describes the application of fuzzy logic to the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) test, a series of timed physical activities that have been created to evaluate, discriminate, and predict physical functional performance for both research and clinical purposes, primarily for physically impaired older adults. The original scoring system of SPPB test uses crisp time boundaries to assign the subject to discrete classes of performance. The crisp (and somewhat arbitrary) nature of the crisp thresholds can easily produce anomalies. Fuzzy Logic theory allows the natural description, in linguistic terms, of input/output relationships rather than relying on precise numerical threshold values. This advantage, dealing with the complicated systems in simple way, is the main reason why fuzzy logic theory is widely applied. In this paper, we offer a new approach for scoring the SPPB test. We demonstrate that in the proposed system, the Fuzzy Short Physical Performance Battery (FSPPB), we can improve the sensitivity and data distribution of the scoring system for the SPPB test. We present the procedures of constructing a fuzzy inference system using fuzzy logic to score the SPPB test and compare the original scoring system with our fuzzy scoring system. As part of a large project in technology for Eldercare, our goal is to accurately measure trends in physical performance of seniors over time. Keywords—Fuzzy logic, Short physical performance battery test, Eldercare technology I. INTRODUCTION lder adults are living longer and more fulfilled lives, and they desire to live as independently as possible in the home of their choice. However, independent lifestyles come with risks that are complicated by chronic illness and impairments in mobility, cognition, and the senses. In response to this trend, the University of Missouri has been investigating new approaches in caring for the elderly. One recent example of this research focus has resulted in TigerPlace, a 32-unit apartment complex for seniors that opened in Columbia, Missouri in 2004. A joint venture between MU’s Sinclair School of Nursing and Americare Systems Inc., TigerPlace is one of four projects granted state approval to operate under the “aging in place” model of care giving [1]. Under that model, residents who would otherwise be required by state law to live in nursing homes may have health services brought to them in their apartments instead. Technology that can help seniors “age in place” has been spotlighted in recent years, spurred by an aging population. One focus of our research is the creation of “intelligent software” that uses sensors to uncover patterns of activity helpful to caregivers [2], especially targeting mobility and Manuscript received January 20, 2006. This work was supported in part by the National Science Foundation Grant IIS-0428420 and the Administration on Aging Grant 90AM3013/01. S. Wang , J. Keller, M. Skubic and H. Tyrer are with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Missouri- Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211. J. Keller is the corresponding author (kellerj@missouri.edu , (573) 882-7339). K . Burks is with the Sinclair School of Nursing, University of Missouri- Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211. cognitive impairment. Details can be found at http://eldertech.missouri.edu . A critical part of this effort is being able to sense, detect and assess changes in basic physical performance in elders. So, we centered on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) test [3]. This exam was created to evaluate, discriminate, and predict physical functional performance for older adults. It was used to assess lower extremity function in more than 5,000 persons age 71 years and older. The SPPB test measures balance, gait, strength, and endurance. Although it is a timed performance test, each subtask score is an integer value in the range 0-4. A score of 0 indicates the inability to complete the task in a nominal time frame while categories 1-4 are assigned to the corresponding quartiles of time needed to perform the action. There are five subscales: semi-tandem standing (the heel of one foot on the side of the big toe of the other foot), side by side standing, full tandem position (the heel of one foot directly in front of the other foot), walking speed (eight feet on a smooth service with no obstructions), and a sit-to-stand test (rise from a chair five times with arms folded across the chest). It has been shown that such performance measures correlate well with the self-assessment of older persons across a broad spectrum of lower extremity function [3-6]. The original scoring for the SPPB test is as follows [3]: Scoring performance on tests of standing balance Score Side by side stand Semi-tandem stand Full tandem stand 0 t< 10 seconds Not attempted Not attempted 1 t=10 seconds t< 10 seconds Not attempted 2 t=10 seconds t=10 seconds t< 3 seconds 3 t=10 seconds t=10 seconds 3seconds<=t <10seconds 4 t=10 seconds t=10 seconds t=10 seconds Scoring performance on test for walking 8 feet (using faster of the two walks) Score Walking Time 1 t>=5.7 seconds 2 4.1seconds<=t<=5.7seconds 3 3.2seconds<=t<4.1seconds 4 t<3.2seconds Scorning performance on chair test (sit to stand 5 times) Score Sit to Stand Time 1 t>=16.7 seconds 2 13.7seconds<=t<16.7seconds 3 11.2seconds<=t<13.7seconds 4 t<11.2seconds While the crisp scoring of the SPPB has been validated on good sized populations of elders, the crisp nature of the Assessing Physical Performance of Elders Using Fuzzy Logic Shuang Wang, James M. Keller, Kathryn Burks, Marjorie Skubic, Harry Tyrer O 0-7803-9489-5/06/$20.00/©2006 IEEE 2006 IEEE International Conference on Fuzzy Systems Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel, Vancouver, BC, Canada July 16-21, 2006 1482