Search results for "Geriatrics"
showing 10 items of 1388 documents
Long-term effect of physical activity counseling on mobility limitation among older people: a randomized controlled study.
2009
Background. Physical activity counseling increases physical activity among older people, but its effectiveness on mobility, that is, maintaining the ability to move independently, is unknown. We studied the effect of physical activity counseling on mobility among older people and evaluated whether counseling-induced benefi ts persist after cessation of the intervention. Methods. In a 2-year, single-blinded, randomized controlled study, 632 sedentary participants aged 75 – 81 years were randomly assigned into the intervention ( n = 318) or control ( n = 314) group. The intervention group received a single individualized physical activity counseling session with a supportive telephone contact…
Effect of cognitive impairment on basic activities of daily living in hip fracture patients: a 1-year follow-up.
2007
Background and aims: To compare changes in basic self-care activities in various cognitive groups of hip fracture patients by the Katz Index of Independence in activities of daily living (ADL). Methods: 117 community-dwelling elderly subjects with acute hip fracture (age 67–92 years), referred to the geriatric unit of Jyvaskyla Central Hospital for rehabilitation, participated in the study. Basic self-care activities were evaluated by the Katz ADL Index and cognition by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Results: Prior to hip fracture, the patients in the lowest MMSE group had a significantly lower Katz Index than the other three groups (p<0.001). Disability increased in a statistica…
Gait reveals bilateral adaptation of motor control in patients with chronic unilateral stroke.
2008
Background and aims: Functional brain imaging has shown that bilateral brain reorganization may occur after unilateral cerebral damage. The present study searched for evidence of bilateral motor control changes in gait in patients with chronic unilateral stroke. Methods: Gait variables (temporal and spatial parameters, footprint peak times (FPPT) and footfall times (FFT)) were recorded in 48 patients with chronic unilateral stroke at their preferred speed, and in 10 healthy volunteers walking from very slowly to very fast on a pressure sensor walkway. The data were divided into 4 groups according to gait velocity. The functional outcome of stroke was measured by the Barthel Index. Results: …
Estimation of Short Temporal Intervals in Alzheimer's Disease
2000
This study investigated the estimation of short temporal intervals in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Eight patients with dementia of the Alzheimer type, and eight age-matched controls were evaluated in a time-estimation task. The task consisted in the production of three short empty intervals (5, 10, and 25 s). Results indicated that AD patients show deficits both in the accuracy and precision of time judgments: in the three intervals evaluated, the magnitude of absolute error and the variability in time judgments were significantly greater in AD patients than healthy respondents (p < .01). These findings are discussed taking into account the contribution of attentional processes during the perf…
Quantitative analysis of modified functional muscle–bone unit and back muscle density in patients with lumbar vertebral fracture in Chinese elderly m…
2018
Objectives: Bone mineral density (BMD) is associated with muscle mass and quality, but little research has been done on functional muscle–bone unit and back muscle density in patients with lumbar vertebral fracture. This study used the “modified functional muscle–bone unit” concept and measured back muscle density to investigate muscle–bone interaction difference between the fracture and control group. Methods: This was a case–control study. A total of 52 elderly male patients (mean age 75 years) with lumbar vertebral fracture (cases) and 52 control healthy subjects were enrolled. Cross-sectional area (CSA) and density of paravertebral muscle were measured in quantitative computed tomograph…
Mobility-Related Fatigue, Walking Speed, and Muscle Strength in Older People
2011
Background. Fatigue is an important early marker of functional decline among older people, but the mechanisms underlying this association are not fully understood. The purpose of the present study was to examine the association between mobility-related fatigue and walking speed and to test the degree to which muscle strength accounts for this association. Methods. The study is based on baseline (n = 523) and 5-year follow-up data (n = 292) from a cohort of 75-year-old persons. Standardized assessments include self-report measures of mobility-related fatigue (score range 0–6) and medical history, as well as performance-based assessment of walking speed and maximal isometric strength of knee …
The Associations of Activity Fragmentation with Physical and Mental Fatigability among Community-Dwelling 75-, 80- and 85-Year-Old People
2020
Abstract Background Fatigue related to task standardized by duration and intensity, termed fatigability, could manifest as shortening of activity bouts throughout the day causing daily activity to accumulate in a more fragmented pattern. Our purpose was to study the association of activity fragmentation with physical and mental dimensions of fatigability. Methods A cross-sectional study of 485 community-dwelling 75-, 80-, and 85-year-old people using a thigh-worn accelerometer for 3–7 days. Activity fragmentation was studied as Active-to-Sedentary Transition Probability for 2 operational definitions of physical activity: accelerations equivalent to at least light physical activity and for u…
Group fitness activities for the elderly: an innovative approach to reduce falls and injuries
2013
Aim The aim of this study was to examine the opportunity to adopt, for the elderly, already validated function ability tests to better understand how to prevent falls and injuries and to better plan group fitness activities like ballroom dance classes (e.g., Valzer, Polka, Mazurka). Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. The Berg Balance Scale (BBS) and the Barthel Index (BI) were administered and the occurrence of falls during the previous 2 years was evaluated by anamnesis. One hundred and twenty-two elderly subjects living in Palermo city participated to the study. According to the anamnesis, subjects were divided into two groups: experimental group (EG) and control group (CG). T…
Fatigue and Depressive Symptoms in Older People
2014
Fatigue is considered an important indicator of aging-related declines in health and functional abilities. Previous studies have indicated strong associations between fatigue and depressive symptoms among younger populations and in patient groups with specific diseases. However, it is not known how different measures of fatigue are associated with depressive symptoms among general older populations. The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults reporting mobility-related or general feelings fatigue. The study population consisted of 75-year-old community-living individuals ( n = 561). Both, mobility-related and general …
From Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Guidelines to Current Clinical Practice
2006
Background: The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines have been promulgated to improve the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD). Objective: To evaluate the extent to which the current therapeutic approach to COPD conforms to GOLD guidelines. Methods: This was a multicentre observational study of elderly COPD patients enrolled for acute care in general medicine or geriatric wards in tertiary hospitals in Italy in April 2002. Our series consisted of 471 patients >64 years of age consecutively admitted for acute exacerbations of COPD to wards participating in the study. Data describing drugs used prior to exacerbation and prescribed at …