Maximal Walking Distance in Persons with a Lower Limb Amputation.

The distance one can walk at a time could be considered an important functional outcome in people with a lower limb amputation. In clinical practice, walking distance in daily life is based on self-report (SIGAM mobility grade (Special Interest Group in Amputee Medicine)), which is known to overestimate physical activity. The aim of this study was to assess the number of consecutive steps and walking bouts in persons with a lower limb amputation, using an accelerometer sensor.

Feasibility study by a single-blind randomized controlled trial of self-management of mobility with a gait-speed feedback device by older persons at risk for falling.

This single-blind randomized pilot study explored feasibility and safety of a self-management fall prevention program, hypothesizing that older persons can comply with this program, while it does not result in more (injurious) falls, or a decrease in mental wellbeing as an adverse effect of being focused on falls prevention. Eighty-six persons, community-dwelling or home for the aged (mean age 80.3 years [SD: 6.

Self-management tasks to improve mobility and reduce fall risk are not leading to lower research participation in older adults.

Purpose Of Study: The first aim is to evaluate, in a sub-study, the recruitment process of the Senior Step Study, which was an intervention study on the self-management of mobility and fall risk; the second aim is to explore the reasons mentioned by older people, from three different settings, for (not) participating.

Methods: Subjects were community-dwelling older persons, residents of homes for the elderly, and older persons regularly visiting community centres. The effectiveness of different recruitment procedures was analysed for each setting separately.

Feasibility of repeated self-measurements of maximum step length and gait speed by community-dwelling older persons.

Objectives: Self-management of mobility and fall risk can be important in fall prevention; however, it remains unstudied. Therefore, the current study assessed whether community-dwelling older persons were able to repeatedly self-assess maximum step length (MSL) and gait speed (GS) in their own home for a 6-month period, how these tests changed during this period and if these changes were related to falling.

Design: This is a prospective study.

The predictive value of gait speed and maximum step length for falling in community-dwelling older persons.

Background: Falling is a major health problem.

Objective: To investigate the predictive value for falls of the maximum step length and gait speed.

Design: A prospective cohort study.