The Case for Developing a Movement System Framework for Older Adults.

Leaders and scholars from multiple academies of the American Physical Therapy Association are developing and defining movement system diagnoses to guide practice. However, there is no consensus on the need for or content of such frameworks. This Perspective describes current thought about movement system diagnoses in physical therapy and summarizes the work of the Academy of Geriatrics (APTA Geriatrics) Movement System Diagnosis Task Force (GMS-TF) as it contributes to the movement system diagnosis discussion within the profession.

Students' perspectives of core value development in a modified problem-based learning program.

Physical therapy educational programs are tasked to develop core values in their students as the foundation of professionalism. Problem-based learning (PBL) is an approach that intends to enrich exploration of issues in clinical decision making, understand how patient care is supported by other aspects of professional practice, and develop examination, intervention and communication skills. This qualitative study aimed to understand, interpret, and describe doctoral physical therapy students' perspectives of core value development in a modified PBL program.

Determining Risk of Falls in Community Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Using Posttest Probability.

Background: Falls and their consequences are significant concerns for older adults, caregivers, and health care providers. Identification of fall risk is crucial for appropriate referral to preventive interventions. Falls are multifactorial; no single measure is an accurate diagnostic tool.

Walking speed: the functional vital sign.

Walking speed (WS) is a valid, reliable, and sensitive measure appropriate for assessing and monitoring functional status and overall health in a wide range of populations. These capabilities have led to its designation as the "sixth vital sign". By synthesizing the available evidence on WS, this scholarly review article provides clinicians with a reference tool regarding this robust measure.

Are scores on the physical performance test useful in determination of risk of future falls in individuals with dementia?

Background And Purpose: Presence of dementia influences postural control and increases fall risk. The 7-item physical performance test (PPT) is a valid measure of balance in older adults; however, its validity has not been established in people with dementia. The purpose of this research was to establish predictive validity of the PPT for falls in people with dementia.

Spatial and temporal parameters of self-selected and fast walking speeds in healthy community-living adults aged 72-98 years.

Purpose: There is limited data about typical performance for spatial and temporal measures of self-selected walking speed (SSWS) and fast walking speeds (FWS) for healthy adults older than 75 years. This study reports both velocity and spatial and temporal characteristics of walking by age group and gender for 118 community-living adults between the ages of 72 and 98 years, mean age 84.8 (5.

Impact of participation in a wellness program on functional status and falls among aging adults in an assisted living setting.

Problem: Aging adults residing in assisted living facilities are vulnerable to the effects of cumulative chronic illness and increasingly sedentary lifestyle, both contributing to risk of functional decline over time. Participation in regular exercise appears to preserve functional status and may minimize the rate of functional decline.

Purpose: This quasi-experimental study evaluated the longitudinal impact of regular participation in a wellness exercise program on functional status of residents in assisted living.