Background
During the walk along the streets, older adults are exposed to various visual stimuli that can affect their gait in a harmful or beneficial way.
Aims
To evaluate gait strategies during ...different situations with and without visual stimulation in older adults to identify the influence of the visual stimulus on these gait parameters.
Methods
A total of 200 older adults were divided into 4 groups according to age range between 60 and 102 years. Gait was evaluated in the following situations: (1) habitual gait (HG); (2) gait with the visual stimulation (GVS) provided by a pedestrian traffic light, and (3) GVS associated with a cognitive task (GVS-C). The GAITRite Platinum equipment was used to assess gait variables.
Results
Comparison of GVS and HG revealed that the visual stimulus influences the gait parameters and promotes a gait speed increase. However, to increase their gait speed, older adults aged 60–89 years used strategies of increased step length and cadence, whereas subjects older than 90 years used only strategies of increased cadence. In addition, comparison of GVS and GVS-C revealed a decrease in gait speed in all age ranges when the cognitive task was added, although this reduction was more pronounced in subjects older than 70 years.
Conclusion
Visual stimulus influences the gait parameters in older adults and the strategy used is different depending on their age, a fact that shows that traffic light may be an interesting strategy to improve the gait performance during physical therapy.
With increases in life expectancy, it is important to understand the influence of aging on gait, given that this activity is related to the independence of older adults and may help in the ...development of health strategies that encourage successful aging in all phases of this process.
To compare gait parameters with usual and fast speeds for independent and autonomous older adults throughout the aging process (60 to 102 years old), and also to identify which of the gait variables are best for identifying differences across the different age groups.
Two hundred older adults aged between 60 and 102 years were evaluated. The sample was divided into 3 age groups: 60 to 79 years, 80 to 89 years and 90 years and over. The analyzed gait variables were: speed (meters/s), cadence (steps/min), stride time (seconds), step length (centimeters), double support (percentage of the gait cycle), swing (percentage of the gait cycle), step length variability (CoV%) and stride time variability (CoV%).
Group comparison regarding usual gait and fast gait revealed a significant difference in all gait variables. In addition, it can be seen that variables such as gait speed and step length showed greater effect sizes in intergroup comparison (usual gait: 0.48 and 0.47; fast gait: 0.36 and 0.40; respectively), possibly showing that these variables can better detect the changes observed with increasing age.
There are differences in the gait performance of older adults from different age groups for usual and fast gait speeds, which is more evident regarding gait speed and step length variables. We recommend the use of usual gait for the identification of the effects of aging because, besides showing a higher effect size values it is more comfortable and requires less effort from older subjects.
•Physiological age has a greater influence on gait than chronological age in younger older adults.•Eighty years or more of chronological age may be a determining factor for gait alterations.•Age-related changes in gait variables are more pronounced in gait speed and step length.
Reference values for the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest) and the Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest) need to be established to predict falls in older adults during every ...stage of aging. The purpose of this study was to determine the cutoff scores for the BESTest and the Mini-BESTest for community-dwelling older adults in order to predict fall risk.
A total of 264 older adults, of both sexes, between the ages of 60 and 102 years, were divided into 4 groups according to age range. After evaluation, participants received telephone follow-up for 6 months to record the number of fall episodes. To define the reference values of the tests in relation to fall risk prediction, a receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to identify the area under the curve and the sensitivity and specificity of the tests. Statistical analyses were done using SPSS (Version 16.0-SPSS Inc) with a significance level of 5% (P ≤ .05).
The cutoff scores to identify older adults with fall risk according to the BESTest and the Mini-BESTest in the different age groups were 99 and 25 points, respectively, for people 60 to 69 years of age, 92 and 23 points for the age group of 70 to 79 years, 85 and 22 points for people 80 to 89 years of age, and 74 and 17 points for people 90 years of age or older.
The BESTest and the Mini-BESTest are good tools for predicting fall risk in the 6 months following an initial evaluation in community-dwelling Brazilian older adults. The study also determined that cutoff values vary for different age groups.
•Discussion about changes gait kinematics in older faller during dual-task gait.•Older fallers and non-fallers had similar abnormalities on gait during dual task gait.•Cognitive dual task gait ...challenges more older adults than motor dual task gait.
Human gait has been widely investigated under dual-task conditions because it has been demonstrated to be an important way to uncover differences in gait biomechanics between older fallers and non-fallers. However, exactly how simultaneous tasks affect the kinematics of walking remains unclear. In the present study, gait kinematic properties of older fallers and non-fallers were compared under cognitive and motor dual-task conditions. The gait kinematic properties of interest were recorded under three different conditions: walking at preferred speed, walking when performing a cognitive task (naming animals), and walking when performing a motor task (transferring a coin from one pocket to the other). The following variables were analyzed: gait speed, cadence, stride time, step length, single support, stride time variability, and the dual-task cost. In addition, functional balance was evaluated by means of the Balance Evaluation – Systems Test (BESTest). Two-way repeated-measures ANOVAs revealed significant main effects of walking conditions. However, no significant main effects of group (fallers vs. non-fallers) and no significant interaction effects between group and walking condition were observed. The BESTest revealed that functional balance in fallers was worse than in non-fallers. The cognitive task leads to more significant changes in gait kinematics than does a motor task and the step length and stride time variability were variables more sensitive to that cognitive influence.
The objective of this study was to compare the functional performance of community-dwelling older adults of both sexes and investigate the possible mediation aspects that may influence the sex ...differences regarding socioeconomic and anthropometric characteristics, health status, and quadriceps muscle strength. 233 Brazilian older adults were assessed, and men's and women's sociodemographic data, physical activity level, quadriceps muscle strength, functional performance (gait speed and the SPPB), and history of falls were compared. Sex differences in functional performance were observed even after statistically adjusting the model (age, body mass, income, physical activity level, and occurrence of falls). When quadriceps muscle strength was included in the adjusted model, the sex difference remained only for gait speed. When stature was included in the adjusted model, the sex difference in gait speed disappeared. Our results suggest that the sex difference in functional performance assessed by the SPPB can be explained due to the fact that men are stronger than women. In addition, the sex difference regarding gait speed was explained by the sex difference in stature. Public actions that encourage older women to practice physical activities that promote increased muscle strength can positively interfere with their best functional performance for as long as possible.
The aim of this study was to evaluate functional independence and trunk control during maximum-range tasks in individuals with spinal cord injuries, who were divided into sedentary (SSI, n=10) and ...physically active (PASI, n=10) groups .
Anamnesis was conducted and level and type of injury were identified (according to the American Spinal Injury Association protocol, ASIA) and the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) questionnaire was applied. For the forward and lateral reach task, the subjects were instructed to reach as far as possible. Mean data were compared using the unpaired t test and Mann-Whitney test and differences were considered significant when p<0.05 .
The PASI group performed better in self-care activities (PASI: 40.8±0.42 points, SSI: 38.0±3.58 points, p=0.01), sphincter control (PASI: 10.5±1.84 points, SSI: 8.2±3.04 points, p=0.02), transfers (PASI: 20.7±0.48 points, SSI: 16.9±4.27 points, p=0.04), and total FIM score (PASI: 104.0±2.30 points, SSI 105.1±8.56 points, p=0.01). On the maximum reach task, the PASI group had a greater average range in all directions evaluated (p<0.05) .
The continuous practice of exercise increased motor function independence and trunk control in individuals with complete spinal cord injury. Level of Evidence II, Prospective Comparative Study.
To assess the Balance Evaluation Systems Test (BESTest), Mini-Balance Evaluation Systems Test (Mini-BESTest), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and gait speed to determine which is the most appropriate test ...for identification of adults aged ≥80 years at higher risk of falls, and to investigate the clinical usefulness of the combination of such tests by cumulative post-test probability (PoTP) for predicting the risk of falls.
Longitudinal prospective study.
Ninety-eight older adults (aged 80–102 years).
Older adults were submitted to the clinical tests and followed-up in order to record the occurrence of falls. The capacity of the clinical tests to detect which older adults are at higher risk of falls was measured using the receiver operating characteristic curve, followed by calculation of PoTP for predicting the risk of falls.
The BESTest and the Mini-BESTest demonstrated the best PoTP for predicting the risk of falls for a positive test (70%), followed by the TUG test (66%) and gait speed (63%). When performed in combination, a positive result on the TUG test, gait speed and Mini-BESTest increased the probability of older adults falling within the next 6months from 50% to 89%; a negative result on these three tests decreased the probability of older adults falling within the next 6months from 50% to 3%.
The combination of TUG test, gait speed and Mini-BESTest provided the best approach. If all three tests are positive, there is an 89% chance of identifying an older person at risk of falling. If all three tests are negative, there would only be a 3% chance of obtaining a false-negative result.
A lesão medular tem como consequência a perda ou diminuição da mobilidade e sensibilidade abaixo do nível da lesão. Essa perda traz inúmeras sequelas e muitas delas podem ser minimizadas com a ...atividade física. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a independência funcional e o controle de tronco durante a atividade de alcance anterior e lateral em indivíduos com paraplegia fisicamente ativos e sedentários. Indivíduos com lesão medular foram divididos em: sedentário (LMS, n=10) e fisicamente ativos (LMFA, n=10). O grupo controle (C), sem lesão medular, foi constituído por 10 indivíduos. Para os grupos com lesão medular, foram obtidas medidas antropométricas, realizado o exame neurológico para identificação do nível e tipo de lesão, utilizando o protocolo da ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association) e o questionário de medida de independência funcional (MIF). Para a tarefa de alcance e preensão, o participante foi instruído a trazer o objeto até o colo, utilizando as duas mãos quando o objeto estava localizado anteriormente e com a mão direita quando o objeto estava na lateral, sem poder auxiliar com a mão esquerda nessa tarefa. Foi avaliada a ativação muscular concomitante as tarefas de alcance e preensão anterior e lateral por meio da eletromiografia de superfície dos músculos longuíssimo do dorso, iliocostal, multífidos, bilateralmente. Análise estatística foi realizada pelos testes t de student para amostras independentes e teste de Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney comparações entre as médias do questionário MIF. Para comparação das médias de ativação eletromiográfica utilizamos o de Variância (ANOVA oneway) e quando necessário, testes univariados e testes post hoc com ajustes de Bonferroni foram aplicados. O padrão do comportamento muscular foi analisado considerando as séries temporais formadas pelos valores representativos do sinal EMG obtidos a cada 5% do tempo. O nível de significância para rejeição da hipótese de nulidade foi de 5% (p<0.05), com resultados expressos em média e desvio padrão. Resultados: Diferenças significativas entre os grupos LMFA e LMS foram identificadas nos domínios de autocuidado, transferências e MIF total, sendo que o grupo LMFA apresentou melhor pontuação. Já nos alcances só foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre indivíduos com e sem lesão, sendo que o controle apresentou maior alcance do que indivíduos com lesão medular. Análises de Variância (Anovas) indicaram que os músculos avaliados apresentaram ativação diferente nas atividades de alcance, notou-se um padrão de ativação muscular diferente para os grupos com lesão quando comparados com o grupo controle, já que na maioria das tarefas o grupo controle ativou significativamente mais os músculos longuíssimo do dorso e ambos os grupos com lesão ativaram mais os músculos iliocostais. Conclusão: Estes resultados indicam que o esporte após a lesão medular traz benefícios na independência funcional, principalmente relacionados a tarefas motoras. Além disso mostra um padrão de ativação muscular de tronco de indivíduos com lesão medular diferentes do padrão de ativação do grupo controle, durante tarefas de alcance para frente e para a lateral. Estudos futuros com um número amostral maior e com maior número de músculos avaliados são necessários para avaliar as estratégias usadas por esses indivíduos e assim guiar um treinamento específico, afim de melhorar o controle postural, equilíbrio, função e promover melhor qualidade de movimento.
Spinal cord injury results in loss or decrease of mobility and sensibility below the lesion level. This loss brings numberless sequels and many of them can be minimised with physical activities. The objective of the present study was to assess the functional independence and trunk control during anterior- and lateral- reaching tasks in physically-active and sedentary paraplegic individuals. The subjects were divided into sedentary (SSCI, n = 10) and physically active (ASCI, n = 10) groups. Control group (C) consisted of 10 individuals without spinal cord injury. Anthropometric measures were obtained from the groups of spinal cord injured individuals before neurological examination for identification of lesion level and type by using ASIA protocol (American Spinal Injury Association) and functional independence measurement (FIM) questionnaire. For the reaching and grasping tasks, the subject was instructed to carry the object in the arms by using both hands when the object was anteriorly located and by using the right hand when the object was on the side, but without using the left hand. Muscle activation was concomitantly assessed during the anterior- and lateral-reaching and grasping tasks by performing surface electromyography of dorsal longissimus, iliocostalis, and multifidus muscles bilaterally. Statistical analysis was carried out by using Student t-test for independent samples and Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitneys test for comparisons between the mean FIM scores. One-way ANOVA was used for comparison of the mean values of electromyographic activation values and, whenever necessary, univariate and Bonferronis post-hoc tests were applied. The pattern of muscular behaviour was analysed considering the time-series formed by representative values of EMG signals obtained every 5 percent of time. Significance level for rejection of null hypothesis was set at 5% (p 0.05), with the results being expressed in mean and standard deviation. Results: Significant differences were found between ASCI and SSCI groups regarding self-care, transfers and total FIM score, with active subjects having higher score. As for the reaching tasks, only significant differences were found between spinal cord injured individuals and control subjects, with the latter presenting wider reach than the former. Analyses of variance (ANOVA) indicated that the muscles evaluated showed different activation in the reaching tasks as different patterns of muscle activation were observed in the groups of paraplegic individuals compared to the control group. This happened because the majority of the control subjects activated significantly more the dorsal longissimus muscles, whereas the paraplegic subjects of both experimental groups activated the iliocostalis muscles. Conclusion: These results indicate that sport activity has beneficial effects on functional independence of spinal cord injured individuals, mainly regarding motor tasks. In addition, one can note a different pattern of muscle activation in the trunk of paraplegic individuals compared to control subjects during performance of anterior- and- lateral reaching tasks. Further studies with greater sample size and higher number of muscles are necessary to assess the strategies used by paraplegic individuals, thus allowing a guiding training to be specifically developed to improve postural control, balance, function, and quality of movement.
Introduction
Gliding without adhesion is imperative to regain full range of motion after flexor tendon repair. The purpose of this study was to find assessment tools that represent these outcomes and ...to explore their relationship with hand function.
Methods
Ninety-six flexor tendon injuries in 24 patients were assessed at 12 weeks after flexor tendon repair. Total active motion (TAM) and total passive motion (TPM) were recorded with a goniometer. For patient-reported upper extremity function, the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire was used.
Results
A moderate negative correlation was found between total active motion and DASH score (r = −0.3809 to −0.5815, P < 0.0001). While TAM and TPM improved over the 12-week period, mean values did not reach those of the uninjured hand. Mean DASH scores improved from 46.05 points at four weeks to 23.5 points at 12 weeks.
Conclusion
Despite early flexor tendon rehabilitation in this sample, after 12 weeks, some degree of dysfunction and loss of active ability for finger flexion still persisted. The DASH appears to be an appropriate outcome tool after flexor tendon repair. The combination of patient-reported questionnaire and measures of impairment such as TAM and TMP give a more comprehensive picture of functional outcome.
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