Search results for "weakness"
showing 10 items of 198 documents
Characteristics of Weak and Strong Readers in a Foreign Language
2016
This study investigated the cognitive (first language [L1] and foreign language [FL]), linguistic (L1 and FL), and motivational characteristics of weak FL readers in contrast to strong readers in 3 groups of L1 Finnish-speaking learners of English, aged 10, 14, and 17 years. This cross-sectional study covered a wide range of potential correlates, and therefore predictors, of FL reading based on previous research on reading in first, second (L2), and foreign languages. The weakest and strongest FL readers (1 standard deviation below or above the mean reading score) in each age group were selected for the comparisons reported in this article. The FL (English) skills other than reading were fo…
Speech treatment in nemaline myopathy: A single-subject experimental study
2020
Abstract Purpose The objective of this work was to verify the efficacy of a treatment based on myofunctional therapy techniques which aimed to improve the tongue strength, precision, and speed of a ten-year-old girl with nemaline myopathy (NM) and the repercussions of this therapy on her speech intelligibility. NM is a rare congenital muscle disorder that causes extreme muscle weakness, especially in the face and neck, as well as severe dysarthria and dysphagia, although this does not affect the nervous system or cognitive development. Method This was a single-subject experimental study which used an interrupted pre- and post-treatment time-series design, and which applied autoregressive in…
The healthy Nordic diet predicts muscle strength 10 years later in old women, but not old men
2017
Background a number of nutrients have been found to be associated with better muscle strength and mass; however, the role of the whole diet on muscle strength and mass remains still unknown. Objective to examine whether the healthy Nordic diet predicts muscle strength, and mass 10 years later among men and women. Methods about 1,072 participants belong to the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study, born 1934–44. Diet was assessed with a validated food-frequency questionnaire during 2001–04. The Nordic diet score (NDS) was calculated. The score included Nordic fruits, vegetables, cereals, ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids, low-fat milk, fish, red meat, total fat and alcohol. Higher scor…
Early-infantile onset epilepsy and developmental delay caused by bi-allelic GAD1 variants
2020
Mice lacking GAD1 show neonatal mortality, but the human phenotype associated with GAD1 disruption is poorly characterized. Neuray et al. describe six patients with biallelic GAD1 mutations, presenting with early-infantile onset epilepsy, neurodevelopmental delay, muscle weakness and non-CNS manifestations.
Community-based oral health promotion practices targeted at children and adolescents in Finland--developing an assessment tool.
2013
Objectives To develop an assessment tool for evaluating oral health promotion practices and to evaluate community-based oral health promotion practices targeted at children and adolescents with this tool. Methods A theoretical framework about health promotion planning, implementation and evaluation was made on the basis of a literature review. Then, information about Finnish community-based oral health promotion practices (n = 12) targeted at children and adolescents was collected using semi-structured interviews. Also, related documents, for example action plans and reports, were collected when available. Next, an assessment tool based on the theoretical framework was developed, and the re…
Musculoskeletal fitness and balance in older individuals (65–85 years) and its association with steps per day: a cross sectional study
2015
Background There is limited normative, objective data combining musculoskeletal fitness (MSF), balance and physical activity (PA) among older adults. The aims were therefore to; 1) describe MSF and balance in older Norwegian adults focusing on age- and sex-related differences; 2) investigate the associations among MSF, balance and objectively-assessed PA levels. Methods This was part of a national multicenter study. Participants (65–85 years) were randomly selected from the national population registry. We used ActiGraph GT1M accelerometers to measure PA. Balance and MSF were assessed using: one leg standing (OLS), handgrip strength (HG), static back extension (SBE), sit and reach (SR), bac…
Muscular performances at the ankle joint in young and elderly men.
2005
The effect of aging on mechanical and electromyographic characteristics of ankle joint muscles was investigated in 11 young (mean age 24 years) and 12 elderly (mean age 77 years) males. Maximal and submaximal isometric voluntary torques were measured during ankle plantarflexion and dorsiflexion. Electromyographic activities of triceps surae and tibialis anterior muscles were recorded. The elderly group developed equal maximal dorsiflexion torques (42 vs 45 N.m, p >.05), but in plantarflexion, the elderly group was weaker (80 vs 132 N.m, p <.001) and presented a decreased twitch amplitude (11 vs 16 N.m) and lower coactivation (8% vs 15%) than that of the young adults. We established a linear…
Lower limb muscle moments and power during recovery from forward loss of balance in male and female single and multiple steppers
2011
Abstract Background Studying recovery responses to loss of balance may help to explain why older adults are susceptible to falls. The purpose of the present study was to assess whether male and female older adults, that use a single or multiple step recovery strategy, differ in the proportion of lower limb strength used and power produced during the stepping phase of balance recovery. Methods Eighty-four community-dwelling older adults (47 men, 37 women) participated in the study. Isometric strength of the ankle, knee and hip joint flexors and extensors was assessed using a dynamometer. Loss of balance was induced by releasing participants from a static forward lean (4 trials at each of 3 f…
Association Between Short Physical Performance Battery and Falls in Older People: The Progetto Veneto Anziani Study.
2014
It is known that weakness in the lower limbs is associated with recurrent falls in old people. Among the tests routinely used to assess lower extremity strength, the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) is one of those used most often, but its relationship with recurrent falls is poorly investigated. We aimed to determine if SPPB scores are related to recurrent falling in a sample of 2710 older-aged people, and to ascertain which test in the SPPB is most strongly associated with a higher rate of falls. In this cross-sectional study, we demonstrated that participants scoring 0-6 in the SPPB were more likely to be recurrent fallers than those scoring 10-12 (odds ratio [OR]=3.46, 95% conf…
Symptom Expression in Patients with Advanced Cancer Admitted to an Acute Supportive/Palliative Care Unit With and Without Delirium
2018
Abstract Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between delirium and symptom expression in patients with advanced cancer admitted to an acute supportive/palliative care unit (ASPCU). Methods A consecutive sample of patients with advanced cancer who were admitted to an ASPCU was prospectively assessed for a period of 10 months. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the MDAS (Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale) were measured at admission (T0) and after 7 days of palliative care (T7). Results Two hundred forty-six patients had complete data regarding MDAS measurements, at either T0 and T7. Of these, 75 (30.5%) and 63 patients (25.6%) had delirium at T0 and aft…