Postural change, gait, and physical function in older adults.

Unlabelled: In a more clinical setting, abrupt posture change may be used to determine the presence of orthostatic hypotension, a hemodynamic response with relationships to physical function. Certain gait features and physical function performance are also associated with risk of falling in older adults. However, the extent to which posture change is associated with subsequent gait and physical function has received little attention in the literature.

Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Intrauterine Contraception and Tubal Ligation.

Background: Tubal ligation remains common in the USA, especially among low-income patients.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness and safety of intrauterine contraceptives (IUC) to laparoscopic tubal ligation for Medicaid clients.

Design: We partnered with patient and clinician stakeholders to conduct a retrospective cohort study using California Medicaid claims for patients who had an IUC placed or laparoscopic tubal ligation performed in 2008-2014, excluding procedures performed within 42 days of a birth.

Patient-Centered Safety Outcomes After Hysteroscopic Compared With Laparoscopic Sterilization.

Objective: To evaluate the real-world safety of hysteroscopic compared with laparoscopic surgical sterilization.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Medicaid claims for hysteroscopic or laparoscopic sterilization procedures performed in California, 2008-2014, among women aged 18-50 years. After excluding postpartum procedures, we applied log-linear (Poisson) event-history regression models for clustered person-period data, weighted for propensity to receive either sterilization procedures, and adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics that may affect outcomes of interest to patients and physicians.

Using Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Data to Assess Likelihood of Incident Long-Term Opioid Use: a Statewide Cohort Study.

Background: Limiting the incidence of opioid-naïve patients who transition to long-term opioid use (i.e., continual use for > 90 days) is a key strategy for reducing opioid-related harms.

Movement direction impacts knee joint kinematics during elliptical exercise at varying incline angles.

Background: Elliptical trainers are a popular cardiovascular exercise for individuals with injuries or those post-operation. There is currently limited data on the impacts of direction while on elliptical trainers for knee joint kinematic risk factors. This study compared lower extremity kinematics between the forward and reverse direction at varying inclines on an elliptical trainer modified with converging footpath and reduced inter-pedal distance.

The effects of a standard elliptical vs. a modified elliptical with a converging footpath on lower limb kinematics and muscle activity.

Elliptical trainers that increase the inter-pedal distance may have potential benefits for knee osteoarthritis by decreasing the amount of knee varus. Modifying elliptical trainers with a converging footpath and reduced inter-pedal distance may be beneficial for reducing anterior knee pathology risk by decreasing knee valgus angles. Twenty-one college students participated in a single testing session.

Medication Status and Gait Mechanics in Older Adults: A Multivariate Analysis.

Background And Purpose: Falls are the leading cause of unintentional deaths in older adults, with nearly one-third of adults older than 65 years falling annually. Previous work reveals that both medication status and gait changes are contributing factors to falls in older adults; however, it is unknown how these factors interact. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to examine differences between gait biomechanics as a function of medication status in individuals older than 60 years with a self-reported history of falling.