Can a Portable Balance System Predict Fall Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Women?

Purpose: Increased fall risk has been linked to age, being female, and age-related changes in the postural control system. The purpose of this study was to determine if a portable balance system could predict fall risk by determining the relationship among the modified Clinical Test for Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB) scores, age, the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) score, and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS) score in community-dwelling older women. Insight into these relationships may facilitate early intervention and decrease fall risk in older women.

Does Hands-on Guarding Influence Performance on the Functional Gait Assessment?

Background And Purpose: An accurate fall risk assessment is an important component of fall prevention, though a fall could occur during testing. To minimize this risk, different guarding methods are used, though there is disagreement regarding the optimal method. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of 2 guarding methods, contact guarding (CG) and standby guarding (SG), on performance during the Functional Gait Assessment (FGA).

Examination of the use of a dual-channel functional electrical stimulation system on gait, balance and balance confidence of an adult with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy.

The purpose of this case report is to determine the effects of a dual-channel functional electrical stimulation (FES) system on gait and balance of a 57-year-old male diagnosed with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Outcome measures included the: Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC); Dynamic Gait Index (DGI); Observational Gait Scale (OGS) and Tinetti Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA). Assessments were completed with and without use of FES during the initial examination and after two, four and six weeks of intervention with FES.

Use of an electrotactile vestibular substitution system to facilitate balance and gait of an individual with gentamicin-induced bilateral vestibular hypofunction and bilateral transtibial amputation.

Background And Purpose: This case report describes the use of an electrotactile vestibular substitution system (ETVSS; BrainPort Balance Device, Wicab, Inc., Middleton, WI) to facilitate balance and gait of an individual with bilateral vestibular hypofunction and bilateral transtibial amputation.

Case Description: A 69-year-old man with a 2.

Efficacy of percutaneous vertebral augmentation and use of physical therapy intervention following vertebral compression fractures in older adults: a systematic review.

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic literature review was to summarize information on the efficacy of percutaneous vertebral augmentation (PVA) and the incorporation of physical therapy intervention following PVA for vertebral compression fractures (VCF).

Methods: Literature searches were completed using the Cochrane Library: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Cochrane Reviews); Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): National Guideline Clearinghouse; Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro); Medline; and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) through August 2005.

Results: Seventeen relevant studies were identified.

Repetitive motion in perception of tactile sensation in the fingers of string players.

Little is known about the mechanisms that underlie the pathophysiology involved in the development of cumulative trauma disorders. Musicians, specifically string players, may be a useful model to examine the cumulative effects of repetitive motion given the highly attended movements of their left hands and the stereotypical grasp of their right hands. Musculoskeletal disorders related to playing are experienced by 39% to 87% of musicians, making musicians a potentially good model for the study of factors involved in development of cumulative trauma disorders.