Associations between plasma osteopontin, sex, and 2-year global and cardiorenal outcomes in older outpatients screened for CKD: a secondary analysis of the SCOPE study.

Background: Plasma osteopontin (pOPN) is a promising aging-related biomarker among individuals with and without kidney disease. The interaction between sex, pOPN levels, and global and cardiorenal outcomes among older individuals was not previously evaluated.

Methods: In this study we investigated the association of pOPN with 24-month global mortality, major cardiovascular events (MACEs), MACEs + cardiovascular (CV) mortality, and renal decline among older individuals; we also evaluated whether sex modified observed associations.

Healthcare costs in relation to kidney function among older people: the SCOPE study.

Purpose: In this study, a comprehensive analysis of costs of chronic kidney disease (CKD) was performed, to understand factors associated with the economic burden of the disease in a multicentre international framework.

Methods: The impact on costs of demographics, socio-economics, clinical, and functional variables was tested in 2204 subjects aged 75 years or more attending outpatient clinics in Europe using a multicentre 2-year prospective cohort study. By means of collected resources consumption and unit cost data a comprehensive cost database was built and then investigated using multilevel regression modeling.

Characteristics of unsuccessful reactive responses to lateral loss of balance in people with stroke.

Purpose: The effectiveness of reactive responses to a sudden loss of balance is a critical factor that determines whether a fall will occur. We examined the strategies and kinematics associated with successful and unsuccessful balance recovery following lateral loss of balance in people with stroke (PwS).

Methods: Eleven PwS were included in the analysis.

Sympathetic response following unannounced loss of balance during walking in young adults: laboratory study.

An unannounced balance loss during walking, i.e., balance perturbation, is a stressful event, which changes the activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).

Characteristics of Unsuccessful Balance Reactive Responses to Lateral Loss of Balance in Older Adults.

Introduction: An effective reactive step response to an unexpected balance loss is an important factor that determines if a fall will happen. We investigated reactive step strategies and kinematics of unsuccessful balance recovery responses that ended with falls in older adults.

Methods: We compared the strategies and kinematics of reactive stepping after a lateral loss of balance, i.

Short physical performance battery is not associated with falls and injurious falls in older persons: longitudinal data of the SCOPE project.

Introduction: Falls and fall-related injuries in older persons are a major public health problem. Our objective was to study the predictive value of the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) in the cohort of the SCOPE project on falls, injurious falls, and possible difference of prediction between indoors and outdoors falls.

Methods: For this sub-study of the SCOPE project participants reporting no falls at baseline, and survey data on falls at the 12-month and 24-month follow-up were included.

Kidney function and other associated factors of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults: The SCOPE study.

Aim: Sarcopenia is associated with several factors and medical conditions among older adults, though previous research has shown limitations and inconsistencies, especially regarding chronic kidney disease (CKD). We investigated the clinical and laboratory variables associated with sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia in older adults, focusing on kidney function measures.

Methods: Data from community-dwelling adults aged ≥75 years participating in the SCOPE multicenter prospective cohort study were assessed cross-sectionally.

A survey of Israeli physical therapists regarding reactive balance training.

Background: 'Reactive balance training' (RBT) was developed to improve balance reactions to unexpected losses of balance. Although this training method is effective, its practical usage in the field of physical-therapy in Israel and world-wide is still unclear.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the extent of RBT use in physical-therapy clinics in Israel, to identify the significant barriers to/facilitators for implementing RBT in clinical practice among physical therapists, and to determine which aspects of RBT most interest physical therapists in Israel.

Development of an Elliptical Perturbation System that provides unexpected perturbations during elliptical walking (the EPES system).

Background: 'Perturbation-based balance training' (PBBT) is a training method that was developed to improve balance reactive responses to unexpected balance loss. This training method is more effective in reducing fall rates than traditional balance training methods. Many PBBTs are performed during standing or treadmill walking which targeted specifically step reactive responses, we however, aimed to develop and build a mechatronic system that can provide unexpected perturbation during elliptical walking the Elliptical Perturbation System (the EPES system), with the aim of improving specifically the trunk and upper limbs balance reactive control.

Quality of Life and Kidney Function in Older Adults: Prospective Data of the SCOPE Study.

A longitudinal alteration in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) over a two-year period and its association with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression was investigated among 1748 older adults (>75 years). HRQoL was measured by the Euro-Quality of Life Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS) at baseline and at one and two years after recruitment. A full comprehensive geriatric assessment was performed, including sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form (GDS-SF), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Unilaterally Applied Resistance to Swing Leg Shows a Different Adaptation Pattern Compared to Split-Belt Treadmill in Patients with Stroke.

Persons with chronic stroke (PwCS) have a decreased ability to ambulate and walk independently. We aimed to investigate the differences between the motor adaptation process for two different perturbation methods: split-belt treadmill walking and unilaterally applied resistance to the swing leg during walking. Twenty-two PwCS undergo split-belt treadmill walking and unilaterally applied resistance to the swing leg during walking, each one week apart.

Transient versus stable nature of fear of falling over 24 months in community-older persons with falls- data of the EU SCOPE project on Kidney function.

Background: Fear of falling (FoF) is an important risk factor for falls among older people. The objectives of our investigations were: a.) to present characteristics of older community-dwelling (CD) fallers with persistent or transient FoF (P-FoF or T-FoF) over 12 months, and b.

The relevance of geriatric assessments on the association between chronic kidney disease stages and mortality among older people: a secondary analysis of a multicentre cohort study.

Background: age-adapted definition of chronic kidney disease (CKD) does not take individual risk factors into account. We aimed at investigating whether functional impairments influence CKD stage at which mortality increases among older people.

Methods: our series consisted of 2,372 outpatients aged 75 years or more enrolled in a multicentre international prospective cohort study.

Daily Outdoor Cycling by Older Adults Preserves Reactive Balance Behavior: A Case-Control Study.

We examined whether older adults who cycle outdoors regularly have better reactive balance control than noncycling older adults. Sixteen cyclist older adults and 24 age-, sex-, and health-matched controls who did not cycle (noncyclists) were exposed to unannounced perturbations of increased magnitudes in standing. We evaluated the strategies and kinematics employed at each perturbation magnitude.

Characteristics of step responses following varying magnitudes of unexpected lateral perturbations during standing among older people - a cross-sectional laboratory-based study.

Introduction: The inability to recover from unexpected lateral loss of balance may be particularly relevant to the problem of falling.

Aim: We aimed to explore whether different kinematic patterns and strategies occur in the first recovery step in single-step trials in which a single step was required to recover from a fall, and in multiple-step trials in which more than one step was required to recover from a fall. In addition, in the multiple-step trials, we examined kinematic patterns of balance recovery where extra steps were needed to recover balance.

Balance recovery stepping responses during walking were not affected by a concurrent cognitive task among older adults.

Background: Most of older adults' falls are related to inefficient balance recovery after an unexpected loss of balance, i.e., postural perturbation.

Muscle activation profile is modulated by unexpected balance loss in walking.

Background: During an unexpected loss of balance, avoiding a fall requires people to readjust their footing rapidly and effectively. A deeper understanding of muscle activation patterns in response to unexpected balance loss will provide insights into the mechanisms of balance recovery responses. This could have implications for treatment of people with balance deficits.

Temporal But Not Spatial Gait Parameters Associated With Lower Balance Capacity in Moderate-High Functioning Persons With Stroke.

Background And Purpose: Falls are a major health concern after stroke. Spatial and temporal gait asymmetry and variability can contribute to instability and increased fall risk in persons with stroke (PwS). We aimed to quantify gait spatiotemporal symmetry and variability parameters in PwS undergoing rehabilitation in the subacute stage of the disease, by comparison to healthy participants, and to examine the associations between these parameters and patients' reactive and proactive balance capacity.

Examining Different Motor Learning Paradigms for Improving Balance Recovery Abilities Among Older Adults, Random vs. Block Training-Study Protocol of a Randomized Non-inferiority Controlled Trial.

: Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. Studies showed that older adults can reduce the risk of falls after participation in an unexpected perturbation-based balance training (PBBT), a relatively novel approach that challenged reactive balance control. This study aims to investigate the effect of the practice schedule (i.

The Effects of Bicycle Simulator Training on Anticipatory and Compensatory Postural Control in Older Adults: Study Protocol for a Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults. Perturbation-Based-Balance Training (PBBT) is a promising approach to reduce fall rates by improving reactive balance responses. PBBT programs are designed for older adults who are able to stand and walk on a motorized treadmill independently.

Characteristics of upper-extremity reactions to sudden lateral loss of balance in persons with stroke.

Background: Upper-extremity reactions are part of a whole-body response to counterweight the falling center of mass after unexpected balance loss. Impairments in upper-extremity reactions due to unilateral hemiparesis may contribute to stroke survivors propensity for falling. We aimed to characterize upper-extremity (paretic and non-paretic sides) reactive movements in response to lateral balance perturbations in Persons with Stroke vs.

Development and piloting of a perturbation stationary bicycle robotic system that provides unexpected lateral perturbations during bicycling (the PerStBiRo system).

Background: Balance control, and specifically balance reactive responses that contribute to maintaining balance when balance is lost unexpectedly, is impaired in older people. This leads to an increased fall risk and injurious falls. Improving balance reactive responses is one of the goals in fall-prevention training programs.

Prevalence of sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults using the updated EWGSOP2 definition according to kidney function and albuminuria : The Screening for CKD among Older People across Europe (SCOPE) study.

Background: Loss of muscle mass and function may be more pronounced in older adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and with albuminuria. Thus, we investigated the prevalence of sarcopenia among community-dwelling older adults according to kidney function and grade of albuminuria. We also explored differences in the prevalence of sarcopenia according to three different equations for the estimation of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Kidney function and other factors and their association with falls : The screening for CKD among older people across Europe (SCOPE) study.

Background: Reduced kidney function has become a major public health concern, especially among older people, as Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is associated with increased risk of end stage renal disease and mortality. Falls are a serious negative health outcome in older persons with one third of people aged 65 years experiencing a fall per year and increasing fall rates with increasing age. The impact of CKD on falls in older community-dwelling persons is not well investigated.