Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test in healthy women 50-79 years old.

The Lower Quarter Y-Balance Test (LQ-YBT), a measure of dynamic balance used in young adults, has not been adequately studied in older women. We determined the reliability, normative values, and relationships to other balance measures for LQ-YBT in women aged 50-79 years. Interrater reliability was strong, and test-retest reliability was moderate to strong.

Relationships between trunk performance, gait and postural control in persons with multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive disease of the central nervous system. Compared to healthy individuals, persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) have increased postural sway in quiet stance, decreased gait speed and increased fall incidence. Trunk performance has been implicated in postural control, gait dysfunction, and fall prevention in older adults.

Continued recovery in an adult with cerebellar ataxia.

Background And Purpose: The authors previously reported on the functional recovery of an adult with chronic, severe ataxia secondary to traumatic brain injury (TBI) after 28 sessions of trunk stabilization and locomotor training (LT). The purpose of this case report is to describe this individual's functional abilities 3.5 years after the intervention.

Use of trunk stabilization and locomotor training in an adult with cerebellar ataxia: a single system design.

The purpose of this study is to describe the effects of trunk stabilization training and locomotor training (LT) using body-weight support on a treadmill (BWST) and overground walking on balance, gait, self-reported function, and trunk muscle performance in an adult with severe ataxia secondary to brain injury. There are no studies on the effectiveness of these combined interventions in persons with ataxia. The subject was a 23-year-old male who had a traumatic brain injury 13 months prior.

A rehabilitative ultrasound imaging investigation of lateral abdominal muscle thickness in healthy aging adults.

Purpose: Rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) is used to evaluate lateral abdominal muscle size and function during the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), an exercise used to improve lumbar spine stability. Little is known about the size and performance of these muscles in healthy aging adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate, using RUSI, the size and symmetry of the lateral abdominal muscles bilaterally at rest and during the ADIM in healthy older adults and the reliability of these measurements.

Electromyographical analysis of selected lower extremity muscles during 5 unilateral weight-bearing exercises.

Study Design: Prospective single-group repeated-measures design.

Objectives: To quantify electromyographic (EMG) signal amplitude of the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, vastus medialis oblique, and biceps femoris during 5 unilateral weight-bearing exercises.

Background: Using normalized EMG (NEMG) signal amplitude as a measure of muscle activation and, therefore, an estimate of exercise intensity, the relative contributions and interaction of the hip and thigh muscles during unilateral weight-bearing exercise can be examined.