Postural Control of Healthy Elderly Individuals Compared to Elderly Individuals with Stroke Sequelae

Stroke Severity and Maximum Inspiratory Pressure are Independently Associated with Functional Mobility in Individuals After Stroke

BACKGROUND

Clinical changes after stroke can contribute to reduced mobility and negatively affect the survival of these individuals. The objective of this study was to verify factors associated with functional mobility in stroke individuals.

METHODS

Crosssectional study carried out with stroke individuals in an outpatient clinic. Demographic and clinical data were collected and the following measures were applied: National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Barthel Index, Trunk Impairment Scale, Functional Reach Test, Timed Up and Go Test, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Respiratory muscle strength was assessed by measuring the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and the maximum expiratory pressure (MEP).Variables with p < .05 in univariate logistic regression analysis were included in the multivariate logistic regression model, using the backward stepwise method.

RESULTS

53 individuals were enrolled with a mean age of 55 years (±13.43). 51% were male and the median NIHSS score was 2.25 (0-13). The final multivariate model included NIHSS (OR = 1.872; 95% CI 1.167-3.006; p = 0.009), physical therapy treatment (OR = 15.467; 95% CI 1.838-130.178; p = 0.012) and MIP (OR = 1.078; 95% CI 1.024-1.135; p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Stroke severity and inspiratory muscle strength were factros associated with functional mobility in individuals after stroke, regardless stroke time.

Effects of Foot Placement on Postural Sway in the Anteroposterior and Mediolateral Directions

The common practice of standardizing foot placement in postural research and in clinical practice may serve to increase postural sway. The focus of this study was to investigate foot placement strategies in the tandem (anteroposterior, AP) and side-to-side (mediolateral, ML) stance in healthy adults. Foot placement was either experimenter-controlled or selected by the participant. Greater sway was observed for the AP stance than the ML stance, where sway was minimal. When foot placement was self-selected, participants recruited additional degrees of freedom by rotating both feet outward to expand the base of support; they narrowed their stance width in the AP stance only. Self-selection served to decrease AP sway for the AP stance and increase ML sway for both the AP and ML stances. A dynamical measure, the largest Lyapunov exponent, supported the finding that self-selection of foot placement serves to stabilize posture. The implication is that improvements in postural control were due primarily to self-selection of foot placement and not to adjustments in stance width. Experimental and perhaps clinical procedures should be revised to allow participants to self-select foot placement during postural tasks.

A preliminary study of static and dynamic balance in sedentary obese young adults: the relationship between BMI, posture and postural balance

The aim of this study was to evaluate the postural control of obese young adults with normal body mass index during different static (bipedic and unipedic support) and dynamic postural conditions (gait velocity and limits of stability) in order to compare the static and dynamic balance of these individuals. A cross-sectional quantitative study was carried out to evaluate static and dynamic balance in 25 sedentary individuals. The sample was divided into two groups, 10 in the normal-weight group (24.70 ± 3.89 years and 21.5 ± 1.66 kg m^-2 ) and 15 in the obese group (26.80 ± 5.16 years and 35.66 ± 4.29 kg m^-2 ). Postural evaluation was performed through visual inspection, and balance analyses were performed using the Timed Up & Go test (TUGT) and Balance System (Biodex). Descriptive analyses, Fisher's exact test and Mann Whitney U-tests were performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS - 20.0, Armonk, NY) software. Most of the obese volunteers presented postural alterations, such as head protrusion (47.6%), hyperkyphosis (46.7%) and hyperlordosis (26.7%). Medial-lateral dynamic displacement, risk of falls and mean time to perform the limits of stability test and TUGT were higher for obese subjects (P < 0.05), while there were no significant differences between the groups (P > 0.05) for static balance tests for either bipedal or unipedal tasks. The disadvantage presented by the young obese subjects occurs in dynamic activities, representing worse balance and an increase in time needed to accomplish these activities.

The Effect of Aging on Physical Performance Among Elderly Manual Workers: Protocol of a Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

In 2012, the Danish Parliament decided to increase retirement age. Unfortunately, elderly people working in a physically demanding environment may be rendered unable to retain the ability to adequately perform the physical requirements of their jobs, due to age-related decreases in physical performance. Therefore, increasing the retirement age may not necessarily lead to the goal of keeping everybody in the labor market for a longer time. To date, our knowledge about the variations in physical performance of the elderly workforce is limited.

OBJECTIVE

In this cross-sectional study we seek to investigate the effects of aging on physical performance among elderly manual workers.

METHODS

Approximately 100 Danish manual workers between 50 and 70 years of age will be recruited. The main measurement outcomes include: (1) inflammatory status from blood samples; (2) body composition; (3) lung function; (4) static and dynamic balance; (5) reaction time, precision, and movement variability during a hammering task; (6) handgrip strength, rate of force development, and force tracking; (7) estimated maximal rate of oxygen consumption; and (8) back mobility. Additionally, information regarding working conditions, physical activity levels, and health status will be assessed with a questionnaire.

RESULTS

Data collection is expected to take place between autumn 2017 and spring 2018.

CONCLUSIONS

This study will increase the knowledge regarding variations in physical performance in the elderly workforce and may identify potential workplace hazards. Moreover, this study might shed light on the potentially problematic decision to increase retirement age for all Danish citizens.