Are changes in leg power responsible for clinically meaningful improvements in mobility in older adults?
From among physiological attributes commonly targeted in rehabilitation, to identify those in which changes led to clinically meaningful differences (CMDs) in mobility outcomes. Secondary analysis of data collected for a randomized controlled trial of exercise using binary outcomes defined by recording a large CMD (Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)=1 unit; gait speed (GS)=0.1 m/s). Iterative [...]
Lower limb reaction time discriminates between multiple and single fallers.
Despite research supporting its validity in predicting falls, simple reaction time (SRT) is not typically included in a clinical falls assessment battery because there is no standardised, clinically feasible testing protocol with published cut off scores. This study aimed to determine whether SRT scores obtained using a clinically viable protocol could discriminate between multiple and [...]
Balance, attention, and dual-task performance during walking after brain injury: associations with falls history.
The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between balance, attention, and dual-task performance in individuals with acquired brain injury. Twenty-four individuals aged 18 to 58 years (mean = 39 years) with acquired brain injury who were able to ambulate 40 ft with (29%) or without an assistive device were included. Fifty-eight percent [...]
Predictors of Falls in Women With and Without Osteoporosis.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the occurrence of falls and muscle strength, flexibility, and balance in postmenopausal women with and without osteoporosis. A total of 133 women with and 133 without osteoporosis, aged 60 years old or greater, were included in the study. Women were interviewed about clinical and [...]
Kinematics of Turning 180{degrees} During the Timed Up and Go in Stroke Survivors With and Without Falls History
This study quantifies kinematic differences between stroke survivors, with and without a falls history, and age-matched healthy counterparts in turning coordination during the 180° turn around in the Timed “Up & Go” (TUG) test. Full-body kinematics were recorded while participants performed the 180° turn around in the TUG. Dependent measures were time to turn, number [...]
Changes in step-width during dual-task walking predicts falls.
The aim was to evaluate whether gait pattern changes between single- and dual-task conditions were associated with risk of falling in older people. Dual-task cost (DTC) of 230 community living, physically independent people, 75 years or older, was determined with an electronic walkway. Participants were followed up each month for 1 year to record falls. [...]
Relationship Between Dynamic Balance Measures and Functional Performance in Community-Dwelling Elderly People
The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new dynamic standing balance assessment test for identifying individuals at risk for falling in a group of community-dwelling older adults. This was a cross-sectional observational study of 72 community-dwelling older adults who were receiving rehabilitation in a geriatric day hospital. A Dynamic Balance Assessment (DBA) test [...]
Effectiveness of a video-based exercise programme to reduce falls and improve health-related quality of life among older adults discharged from hospital: a pilot randomized controlled trial
Falls, loss of health-related quality of life and physical capacity, reduced participation in activities of daily living, and increased fear of falling are all potential outcomes for older adults discharged from hospital. A low-cost video based exercise programme may address this. This study was a randomized controlled trial with blinded outcomes assessment and a six-month [...]
Interventions for preventing falls in older people in nursing care facilities and hospitals.
The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce falls by older people in nursing care facilities and hospitals. 41 trials (25,422 participants) were included. In nursing care facilities, the results from seven trials testing supervised exercise interventions were inconsistent. This was the case too for multifactorial interventions, which [...]
Community-based intervention to optimise falls risk management: a randomised controlled trial.
The objective of this study was tto evaluate the impact of a multifaceted community-based programme aimed at optimising evidence-based management of patients at risk for fall-related fractures. A total of 201 patients were allocated to the intervention group or to usual care. Components of the intervention included assessment of falls risk, functional status and home [...]
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