This study examined the associations between walking behavior and the perceived environment and personal factors among older adults. Sixty participants age 65 yr or older (mean 77 ± 7.27, range 65–92) wore pedometers for 3 consecutive days. Perceived environment was assessed using the Neighborhood Environment Walk-ability Scale (abbreviated version). Physical function was measured using the timed chair-stands test. The mean number of steps per day was 5,289 steps (SD = 4,029). Regression analyses showed a significant association between personal factors, including physical function (relative rate = 1.05, p < .01) and income (RR = 1.43, p < .05) and the average daily number of steps taken. In terms of perceived environment, only access to services was significantly related to walking at the univariate level, an association that remained marginally significant when controlling for personal characteristics. These results suggest that among this sample of older adults, walking behavior was more related to personal and intrinsic physical capabilities than to the perceived environment.
Search Results
Personal Factors, Perceived Environment, and Objectively Measured Walking in Old Age
Lucelia Luna de Melo, Verena Menec, Michelle M. Porter, and A. Elizabeth Ready
Getting Grounded Gracefully©: Effectiveness and Acceptability of Feldenkrais in Improving Balance
Freda Vrantsidis, Keith D. Hill, Kirsten Moore, Robert Webb, Susan Hunt, and Leslie Dowson
The Getting Grounded Gracefully© program, based on the Awareness Through Movement lessons of the Feldenkrais method, was designed to improve balance and function in older people. Fifty-five participants (mean age 75, 85% women) were randomized to an intervention (twice-weekly group classes over 8 wk) or a control group (continued with their usual activity) after being assessed at baseline and then reassessed 8 wk later. Significant improvement was identified for the intervention group relative to the control group using ANOVA between-groups repeated-measures analysis for the Modified Falls Efficacy Scale score (p = .003) and gait speed (p = .028), and a strong trend was evident in the timed up-and-go (p = .056). High class attendance (88%) and survey feedback indicate that the program was viewed positively by participants and might therefore be acceptable to other older people. Further investigation of the Getting Grounded Gracefully program is warranted.
Short Communication: Pennation Angle Variability in Human Muscle
Benjamin W. Infantolino and John H. Challis
The pennated arrangement of muscle fibers has important implications for muscle function in vivo, but complex arrangement of muscle fascicles in whole muscle raises the question whether the arrangement of fascicles produce variations in pennation angle throughout muscle. The purpose of this study was to describe the variability in pennation angle observed throughout the first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscle using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Two cadaveric muscles were scanned in a 14.1 tesla MRI unit. Muscles were divided into slices and pennation angle was measured in the same representative location throughout the muscle in each slice for the medial-lateral and anterior posterior-image planes. Data showed large nonuniform variation in pennation angles throughout the muscles. For example, for cadaver 2, pennation angle in 287 planes along the medial-lateral axis ranged from 3.2° to 22.6°, while for the anterior-posterior axis, in 237 planes it ranged from 3.1° to 24.5°. The nonnormal distribution of pennation angles along each axis suggests a more complex distribution of fascicles than is assumed when a single pennation angle is used to represent an entire muscle. This distribution indicates that a single pennation angle may not accurately describe the arrangement of muscle fascicles in whole muscle.
The Effect of 6 Months Training on Leg Power, Balance, and Functional Mobility of Independently Living Adults Over 70 Years Old
Roger Ramsbottom, Anne Ambler, Janie Potter, Barbara Jordan, Alan Nevill, and Carol Williams
Where strength training has been used in conjunction with functional-task training in older people, not only have there been improvements in leg strength but also improved function has been measured (e.g., Skelton & McLaughlin, 1996). Many studies use participants from care homes rather than community dwellers. We investigated changes in leg power, balance, and functional mobility in community-dwelling sedentary men and women over 70 years of age (n = 6 for training group [TR]; n = 10 for control group [CN]). Progressive training took place over 24 weeks using seated and nonseated exercise. For TR, leg power increased 40%, from 108 ± 40 to 141 ± 53 W (p < .01); dynamic balance increased 48%, from 22.3 ± 7.9 to 33.1 ± 6.1 cm (p < .01; functional reach); and functional mobility increased 12%, from 7.46 ± 1.32 to 6.54 ± 1.41 s (p < .05; timed walk). CN showed no significant change. In conclusion, a community-based exercise program led to large improvements in leg-extensor power, dynamic balance, and functional mobility.
Quantifying Achievable Levels of Improvement in Knee Joint Biomechanics During Gait After Total Knee Arthroplasty Relative to Osteoarthritis Severity
Jereme B. Outerleys, Michael J. Dunbar, Glen Richardson, Cheryl L. Hubley-Kozey, and Janie L. Astephen Wilson
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains the current standard of care for management of end-stage knee osteoarthritis (OA). TKA is considered highly successful in terms of self-report pain and function, and contemporary implants are associated with a survivorship of 20 years or more. 1 , 2 The
Lower Limb Flexibility in Children With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: Effects on Functional Performance
Lütfiye Akkurt, İpek Alemdaroğlu Gürbüz, Ayşe Karaduman, and Öznur Tunca Yilmaz
classifies each child as having a DMD level between 1 (able to walk independently) and 10 (confined to bed) ( 1 ). In our study, the following assessments were performed using ambulatory children with better levels of function (levels 1 and 2), as the flexibility tests would require active participation and
Motor Patterns Acquired Early in Life, the Brain-Behavior Coalition, and the Importance of Context
Ryota Nishiyori and Beverly D. Ulrich
. MRI data document that the infant cerebrum volume increases by 101% and the cerebellum by 240% during the first year of life. Results of this nature provide description but not function ( Knickmeyer et al., 2008 ). To acquire images with MRI, participants must remain stationary for an extended period
Immediate Effects of Ankle Joint Mobilization With Movement on Postural Control, Range of Motion, and Muscle Strength in Healthy Individuals: A Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial
Murat Tomruk, Melda Soysal Tomruk, Emrullah Alkan, and Nihal Gelecek
neurons and enhancing the neuromuscular function of joint stabilizing muscles suggests that ankle joint mobilization may improve postural control. 9 The effects of Mulligan’s MWM on ankle ROM, strength, and postural control in people with ankle disorders had previously been investigated. 4 , 7 , 10
The Effects of Scapular Mobilization in Patients With Subacromial Impingement Syndrome: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Aydan Aytar, Gul Baltaci, Tim Uhl, Handan Tuzun, Pinar Oztop, and Metin Karatas
Objective:
To determine the effects of scapular mobilization on function, pain, range of motion, and satisfaction in patients with subacromial impingement syndrome (SAIS).
Design:
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Setting:
University hospital clinics in Turkey.
Participants:
66 participants (mean ± SD age 52.06 ± 3.71 y) with SAIS.
Interventions:
Participants were randomized into 3 groups: scapular mobilization, sham scapular mobilization, and supervised exercise. Before the interventions transcutaneous electrical stimulation and hot pack were applied to all groups. Total intervention duration for all groups was 3 wk with a total of 9 treatment sessions.
Main Outcome Measures:
Shoulder function and pain intensity were primary outcome measures; range of motion and participant satisfaction were secondary outcome measures. Shoulder function was assessed with the short form of the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand Questionnaire (DASH). A visual analog scale was used to evaluate pain severity. Active range of motion was measured with a universal goniometer. A 7-point Likert scale was used to evaluate satisfaction. Outcome measurements were performed at baseline, before visits 5 and 10, 4 wk after visit 9, and 8 wk after visit 9.
Results:
There was no group difference for DASH score (P = .75), pain at rest (P = .41), pain with activity (P = .45), pain at night (P = .74), and shoulder flexion (P = .65), external rotation (P = .63), and internal rotation (P = .19). There was a significant increase in shoulder motion and function and a significant decrease in pain across time when all groups were combined (P < .001). The level of satisfaction was not significantly different for any of the questions about participant satisfaction between all groups (P > .05).
Conclusion:
There was not a significant advantage of scapular mobilization for shoulder function, pain, range of motion, and satisfaction compared with sham or supervised-exercise groups in patients with SAIS.
Return to Preinjury Function Following Knee Injury
Aaron D. Sciascia, Arthur J. Nitz, Patrick O. McKeon, Jennifer Havens, and Timothy L. Uhl
-specific information has been traditionally obtained after injury has occurred and dysfunction has become established. However, a common goal in musculoskeletal rehabilitation is to return the patient to preinjury levels of activity. 7 – 14 Thus, an assessment of preinjury physical function should ideally occur
