Fall history in older adults impacts acceleration profiles after a near collision with a moving pedestrian hazard.

Background: Environmental hazards (e.g., pedestrian traffic) cause falls and testing environment impacts gait in older adults.

Dual-tasking impacts gait, cognitive performance, and gaze behavior during walking in a real-world environment in older adult fallers and non-fallers.

Introduction: Everyday walking often involves simultaneous performance of a cognitive task in environments with competing auditory and visual stimuli. Previous research has not evaluated task performance in these situations, where older adults are known to fall, limiting our understanding of how older adults adjust their gait, visual scanning (gaze), and cognitive processing to avoid falls (or not). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of dual-task walking in a high-distraction real-world environment on cognitive performance, gait performance, and gaze behavior in older adult fallers relative to non-fallers.

Attentional prioritization in dual-task walking: Effects of stroke, environment, and instructed focus.

Background: The impact of high distraction, real-world environments on dual-task interference and flexibility of attentional prioritization during dual-task walking in people with stroke is unknown.

Research Question: How does a real-world environment affect dual-task performance and flexible task prioritization during dual-task walking in adults with and without stroke?

Methods: Adults with stroke (n = 29) as well as age-, gender-, and education-matched adults without stroke (n = 23) participated. Single and dual-task walking were examined in two different environments (lab hallway, hospital lobby).

Effect of the environment on gait and gaze behavior in older adult fallers compared to older adult non-fallers.

Introduction: Compared to controlled laboratory settings, the real world is highly distracting with constant demands on visual attention to avoid hazards and falling. Fall-risk assessments do not adequately take into account the potential role of everyday distractions and environmental hazards. The purpose of this project was to identify the effect of the environment on gait and gaze behavior during walking in older adult fallers relative to non-fallers.

Test-retest reliability and minimal detectable change for measures of balance and gait in adults with cerebral palsy.

Background: Walking and balance often begin to deteriorate in ambulant adults with cerebral palsy (CP) in early adulthood. The decline in walking and balance imposes a more sedentary lifestyle, increases falls risk, negatively affects health, participation, and quality of life, and ultimately results in increased disability. Available research is not sufficient to guide interventions to improve walking and balance in this population.

Relationships between gait variability and ambulatory activity post stroke.

Background: Fall risk and balance confidence are related to gait variability and ambulatory activity post stroke, yet whether a relationship exists between gait variability and ambulatory activity is unknown. Knowing if gait variability measured under naturalistic conditions is related to ambulatory activity could explain more about the relationship between falls and walking activity post-stroke.

Objectives: To examine relationships between spontaneous, daily ambulatory activity and gait variability during single- and dual-task walking, in low- and high-distraction settings in adults post stroke.

Relationship Between Dual-Task Gait Speed and Walking Activity Poststroke.

Background And Purpose: Gait speed does not adequately predict whether stroke survivors will be active in the community. This may be because traditional single-task gait speed does not sufficiently reproduce the demands of walking in the real world. This study assessed whether dual-task gait speed accounts for variance in daily ambulatory activity above what can be predicted with habitual (single task) gait speed in community-dwelling stroke survivors.

The role of movement errors in modifying spatiotemporal gait asymmetry post stroke: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: Current rehabilitation to improve gait symmetry following stroke is based on one of two competing motor learning strategies: minimizing or augmenting symmetry errors. We sought to determine which of those motor learning strategies best improves overground spatiotemporal gait symmetry.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Preventing falls in assisted living: Results of a quality improvement pilot study.

Residents of assisted living (AL) communities are at high risk for falls, which result in negative outcomes and high health care costs. Adapting effective falls prevention programs for AL quality improvement (QI) has the potential to reduce falls, improve resident quality of life, and reduce costs. This project tested the feasibility and outcomes of an evidence-based multi-component QI program, the Assisted Living Falls Prevention and Monitoring Program (AL-FPMP).

Effects of Physical Exercise Interventions on Gait-Related Dual-Task Interference in Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Dual-task interference during walking can substantially limit mobility and increase the risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults. Previous systematic reviews examining intervention effects on dual-task gait and mobility have not assessed relative dual-task costs (DTC) or investigated whether there are differences in treatment-related changes based on the type of dual task or the type of control group. The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the effects of physical exercise interventions on dual-task performance during walking in older adults.

Association of self-efficacy and outcome expectations with physical activity in adults with arthritis.

Background and Purpose. The purpose of this study is to determine whether higher baseline levels of (a) self-efficacy for physical activity, (b) self-efficacy for arthritis self-management, and (c) outcome expectations for exercise are associated with higher physical activity levels following an exercise intervention for adults with arthritis. Methods.

A structural equation model relating physical function, pain, impaired mobility (IM), and falls in older adults.

The current study used a structural equation model to investigate the interrelationships among physical function, pain, IM, and falls in 511 American older adults. The model included 11 measurement variables (tandem stance, single leg stance, 360° turn, chair stand, arm curl, sit and reach, back scratch, normative score of 6-min walk or 2-min step, timed up and go, pain, and fall) and four latent variables (balance, strength, flexibility, and IM). The final model with the combined sample demonstrated good fit with the participant data (χ(2)(31)=30.

"Dance Dance Revolution" Used by 7- and 8-Year-Olds to Boost Physical Activity: Is Coaching Necessary for Adherence to an Exercise Prescription?

Objective: To increase opportunities for physical activity (PA) for children in children's homes, we used a "Dance Dance Revolution" (DDR) (Konami of America, Redwood City, CA) coaching protocol for 7- and 8-year-olds.

Subjects And Methods: We randomly assigned youth to either an Enhanced (coaching) or Basic (no coaching) group. A DDR prescription of 120 minutes/week was provided to 40 children.

The effect of an exercise-based balance intervention on physical and cognitive performance for older adults: a pilot study.

Background: Several exercise-based falls prevention interventions produced significant long-term reductions in fall rate, but few demonstrate long-term improvements in falls risk factors. A strong body of evidence supports a protective effect of aerobic or strength-training exercise on cognition. Individuals participating in an exercise-based balance improvement program may also experience this protective effect.

Comparison of shoulder flexibility, strength, and function between breast cancer survivors and healthy participants.

Introduction: Deficits after breast cancer treatment have been examined by comparing the surgically affected upper extremity to the unaffected extremity. It is not possible to know precisely if anti-cancer treatment such as radiation and chemotherapy had any effect on the unaffected arm. The purpose of this study was to compare ROM, strength, and shoulder function between breast cancer survivors and healthy, matched controls.

Walking in old age and development of metabolic syndrome: the health, aging, and body composition study.

Background: The specific health benefits of meeting physical activity guidelines are unclear in older adults. We examined the association between meeting, not meeting, or change in status of meeting physical activity guidelines through walking and the 5-year incidence of metabolic syndrome in older adults.

Methods: A total of 1,863 Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) Study participants aged 70-79 were followed for 5 years (1997-1998 to 2002-2003).

Head and shoulder posture affect scapular mechanics and muscle activity in overhead tasks.

Forward head and rounded shoulder posture (FHRSP) is theorized to contribute to alterations in scapular kinematics and muscle activity leading to the development of shoulder pain. However, reported differences in scapular kinematics and muscle activity in those with forward head and rounded shoulder posture are confounded by the presence of shoulder pain. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare scapular kinematics and muscle activity in individuals free from shoulder pain, with and without FHRSP.

Development of a clinical measure of dual-task performance in walking: reliability and preliminary validity of the Walking and Remembering Test.

Objectives: (1) To examine the reliability of a new clinical measure of simultaneous walking with performance of a working memory task, the Walking and Remembering Test (WART). (2) To compare older adult to younger adult WART performance to illustrate preliminary validity.

Subjects: Convenience sample of 25 young adults (ages 22-35) and 25 older adults (ages 65-86) performed the WART twice.

A pilot study: coordination of precision grip in children and adolescents with high functioning autism.

Purpose: This pilot study compared temporal coordination during a precision grip task between 13 children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) who were high functioning and 13 peers with typical development.

Methods: Temporal coordination between grip and load forces was measured using latency between onset of grip and load forces, grip force at onset of load force, peak grip force (PGF), and time to PGF.

Results: Compared with peers with typical development, participants with ASD demonstrated prolonged latency between grip and load forces, elevated grip force at onset of load force, and increased movement variability.

Physical activity as a preventative factor for frailty: the health, aging, and body composition study.

Background: It is unclear if physical activity (PA) can prevent or reverse frailty. We examined different doses and types of PA and their association with the onset and severity of frailty.

Methods: Health, Aging and Body Composition (Health ABC) study participants (N = 2,964) were followed for 5 years, with frailty defined as a gait speed of less than 0.

Physical performance characteristics of assisted living residents and risk for adverse health outcomes.

Purpose: Researchers know little about the physical performance ability of residential care/assisted living (RC/AL) residents and its relationship to adverse outcomes such as fracture, nursing home placement, functional decline, and death. The purposes of this article are to (a) describe the functional characteristics of RC/AL residents, (b) examine the relationships between resident- and facility-level characteristics and physical performance, and (c) determine the predictive value of physical performance for adverse outcomes.

Design And Methods: Data came from 1,791 residents in 189 RC/AL facilities participating in the Collaborative Studies of Long-Term Care.

Orthotic aided training of the paretic upper limb in chronic stroke: results of a phase 1 trial.

This was a phase 1 investigation of an upper limb training program using the SaeboFlex dynamic orthosis to improve upper limb motor status. Thirteen individuals with chronic hemiparesis from stroke (age 26-71 years) participated. After being fitted with a SaeboFlex orthosis, each participant was engaged in 5 days of training (6 hours per day) that consisted of repetitive, task oriented activities with the SaeboFlex, exercises, and functional electrical stimulation.

Kinematics and electromyography of landing preparation in vertical stop-jump: risks for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Background: Biomechanical analysis of stop-jump tasks has demonstrated gender differences during landing and a potential increase in risk of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury for female athletes. Analysis of landing preparation could advance our understanding of neuromuscular control in movement patterns and be applied to the development of prevention strategies for noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Hypothesis: There are differences in the lower extremity joint angles and electromyography of male and female recreational athletes during the landing preparation of a stop-jump task.