Using technology-based techniques to assess postural control and gait in older adults.

Increasingly sophisticated instrumentation and techniques to assess gait and postural control in older adults are now available. These technology-based methods may be most useful in understanding the mechanisms underlying age-related and disease-related changes in gait and postural control. Further work is needed to ensure that these methods: (1) are used in a hypothesis-driven manner; (2) are made more simple, portable, and user friendly; and (3) are used in an appropriate and cost-effective manner.