The angiotensin-converting enzyme gene insertion/deletion polymorphism interacts with fear of falling in relation to stepping speed in community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Despite the association of genetic factors with falls, balance, and lower extremity functioning, interaction of the angiotensin-converting enzyme () gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism with fear of falling (FOF) in relation to stepping performance has, to the best of our knowledge, not been investigated in older adults.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the interaction effects of the I/D polymorphism with FOF in relation to stepping performance in older adults.

Methods: Eighty-eight community-dwelling adults 60 years or older participated in a cross-sectional observational study.

Assessing Differential Effects of Somatic Amplification to Positive Affect in Midlife and Late Adulthood-A Regression Mixture Approach.

This study aims to provide an empirical demonstration of a novel method, regression mixture model, by examining differential effects of somatic amplification to positive affect and identifying the predictors that contribute to the differential effects. Data derived from the second wave of Midlife in the United States. The analytic sample consisted of 1,766 adults aged from 33 to 84 years.

Impact of a Leadership Development Program for Students in a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program.

Aims: Physical therapists are needed in leadership roles to enhance participation in primary care delivery models. This study's purpose was to investigate the impact of a leadership development course in a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) curriculum on student physical therapist leadership practices. It was anticipated that students who completed a structured leadership development course would have a greater increase of leadership practices as measured by the Leadership Practices Inventory-Self (LPI-Self).

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism, Lower Extremity Strength, and Physical Performance in Older Adults.

Background: Evidence for associations between the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and physical performance is conflicting. Furthermore, investigations of relationships between lower extremity strength and physical performance have usually not considered the role of the ACE genotype, and it is unclear whether there are variations in relationships between lower extremity strength and physical performance among ACE genotypes in older adults.

Objective: The objectives of this study were to investigate associations between the ACE I/D polymorphism and physical performance and to determine whether relationships between lower extremity strength and physical performance vary among ACE genotypes in older adults.

Construct validity of the Modified Gait Efficacy Scale in older females.

There are few well-validated tools that focus on the assessment of walking confidence in older adults. The main objective of this study was to assess construct validity of the 10-item Modified Gait Efficacy Scale (mGES) as a measure of walking confidence in older adults. Twenty-four older females completed the mGES, the 16-item Activities-specific Balance Confidence (ABC-16) scale, and the Senior Fitness Test (SFT).

Performance on a test of rapid stepping in community-dwelling older adults: validity, relative and absolute reliability and minimum detectable change.

Reduced stepping speed is associated with balance deficits and falls in older adults. We evaluated psychometric properties of a test of rapid stepping, the Thirty-Rapid-Step test (30-RST) in 37 community-dwelling older adults. Participants performed the 30-RST, dynamic (step execution time, five-times-sit-to-stand test, gait speed, maximum step length and four-square-step test) and static (single-leg-stance-time and postural sway) performance-based tests.

Age and task differences in functional fitness in older women: comparisons with Senior Fitness Test normative and criterion-referenced data.

Age-related changes in physical abilities, such as strength and flexibility, contribute to functional losses. However, older individuals may be unaware of what specific physical abilities compromise independent functioning. Three groups of women, aged 60 to 69, 70 to 79, and 80 to 92 years, were administered the Senior Fitness Test (SFT) to determine age differences in physical abilities and risk for functional losses.

Prosocial behaviours of young adolescents: a focus group study.

This study investigated young adolescents' perceptions of their peers' prosocial behaviours. In eight focus groups, 53 11- to 13-year olds described specific prosocial acts of their peers. Results suggest that traditional research has not addressed the diversity of prosocial behaviours that youth enact, nor emphasized behaviours that are salient to young adolescents.