The effect of low-impact dance on blood metabolites, the joint range of motion (ROM) of the lower extremities, knee extension torque, bone mass density (BMD), the number of falls, and the confidence to perform daily activities (Modified Falls Efficacy Scale [MFES]) was examined in older sedentary women (age: 59 ± 4 years) before and after a 16-week intervention. Results showed that the average score for the MFES, some parameters of blood chemistry, and joint ROM were significantly improved after low-impact intervention. In addition to improvements in blood lipids and body fat percentages, the increases shown in the parameters regarding the lower extremities may contribute to confidence in performing common daily activities in older women, although the number of falls did not significantly differ between the two groups during the 16-week period.
Hui Ying Wu, Jui Hung Tu, Chin Hsing Hsu and Te Hung Tsao
Bernard Auvinet, Gilles Berrut, Claude Touzard, Laurent Moutel, Nadine Collet, Denis Chaleil and Eric Barrey
The objective of this study was to measure gait abnormalities in elderly fallers with the Locometrix™ gait-analysis system. This accelerometric device provided the following gait variables: walking speed and stride frequency, length, symmetry, and regularity. The variables were analyzed over a 20-s period of stable walking on a flat track of 40 m. Participants were 20 elderly patients hospitalized for falls (mean age 80.8 ± 5.0 years) and 33 older adults living at home (mean age 77.2 ± 6.5 years). All gait variables were found to be significantly lower in the faller group (p < .05). The lower gait speed, stride length, and stride frequency were previously recognized as nonrelevant in predicting the risk of falling, whereas lower stride symmetry was related to an underlying pathology and lower stride regularity was correlated to the risk of falls. The Locometrix appears to be well suited to measure gait regularity in routine practice.
Oluwaseyi Osho, Oluwatoyosi Owoeye and Susan Armijo-Olivo
( Statistics Canada, 2015 ). One of the greatest health challenges facing this increasing population is falls ( Scott, Wagar, & Elliott, 2010 ). A fall is defined as a sudden, unintentional change in position, causing the individual to land at a lower level with or without injury ( Scott et al., 2010 ). The
Wei Sun, Xiujie Ma, Lin Wang, Cui Zhang, Qipeng Song, Houxin Gu and Dewei Mao
Approximately one of three people aged 65 years and older fall at least once a year, and half of them experience multiple falls ( Davis et al., 2010 ). Falls cause severe injuries in the elderly, especially postmenopausal women with osteoporosis; such injuries include soft tissue injury, fracture
Amanda L. Penko, Jacob E. Barkley, Anson B. Rosenfeldt and Jay L. Alberts
/or cognitive performance. 2 , 3 , 5 Postural instability and gait dysfunction associated with PD are described as shuffling, small steps, decreased arm swing, and stooped posture, which disturb mobility and postural stability, leading to an increased fall risk. 4 , 6 Greater than 50% of individuals with PD
Shani Batcir and Itshak Melzer
, Benjuya, & Kaplanski, 2003 ) showed better fall-related traditional sway measurements compared with controls. Rissel, Passmore, Mason, and Merom ( 2013 ) found that a month of outdoor bicycling was associated with faster stepping times among adults aged 44–79 years. In addition, in a pre–post study design
Michiel Punt, Sjoerd M. Bruijn, Ingrid G. van de Port, Ilona J.M. de Rooij, Harriet Wittink and Jaap H. van Dieën
Falls are common in community-dwelling stroke survivors, 1 and poststroke patients are more often frequent fallers than older adults. 2 In addition, hip fractures resulting from a fall more often lead to immobility in stroke survivors. 3 Other consequences of falls are loss of independence and
Wuber J.S. Soares, Alexandre D. Lopes, Eduardo Nogueira, Victor Candido, Suzana A. de Moraes and Monica R. Perracini
). Fall-related costs are expected to increase substantially in coming years due to population aging, particularly the costs associated with hospitalization, long-term care, and fractures ( Heinrich, Rapp, Rissmann, Becker, & König, 2010 ). The physical activity (PA) level is an important indicator of
Stephen Harvey, Chris Rissel and Mirjam Pijnappels
A significant health issue among older adults is falls. The World Health Organization ( 2008 ) estimated that 28–35% of people aged 65 years and older fall each year, of which 20–30% results in an injury. Falls have accounted for more than 50% of injury-related hospitalizations in people aged 65
Angela Papadimitriou and Mark Perry
Fall-related psychological concerns (FRPCs), such as the fear of falling, low confidence in maintaining balance, or reduced belief in the ability to avoid a fall, may affect up to 85% of older people ( Payette, Bélanger, Léveillé, & Grenier, 2016 ). FRPCs may have a significant impact on levels of
