Alternate lower extremity resistance training to increase stability in young and elderly adults

Gemstone Team BALANCE

Newly Acquired Fear of Falling Leads to Altered Eye Movement Patterns and Reduced Stepping Safety: A Case Study

This opportune case study describes visual and stepping behaviours of an 87 year old female (P8), both prior to, and following two falls. Before falling, when asked to walk along a path containing two stepping guides positioned before and after an obstacle, P8 generally visually fixated the first stepping guide until after foot contact inside it. However, after falling P8 consistently looked away from the stepping guide before completing the step into it in order to fixate the upcoming obstacle in her path. The timing of gaze redirection away from the target (in relation to foot contact inside it) correlated with absolute stepping error. No differences in eyesight, cognitive function, or balance were found between pre- and post-fall recordings. However, P8 did report large increases in fall-related anxiety and reduced balance confidence, supporting previously suggested links between anxiety/increased fear or falling and maladaptive visual/stepping behaviours. The results represent a novel insight into how psychological and related behavioural factors can change in older adults following a fall, and provide a possible partial rationalisation for why recent fallers are more likely to fall again in the following 12 months. These findings highlight novel possibilities for falls prevention and rehabilitation.

Le transfert des connaissances pour prévenir les chutes chez des personnes âgées en centre hospitalier cardiovasculaire aigu

Rapport de stage présenté à la Faculté des sciences infirmières en vue de l'obtention du grade de Maître ès sciences (M.Sc.) option expertise-conseil en soins infirmiers

Definições para o resultado de enfermagem comportamento de prevenção de quedas: uma revisão integrativa

Devido à necessidade de mensurar o risco de quedas em concordância à linguagem padronizada de enfermagem, foi selecionado o resultado de enfermagem Comportamento para Prevenção de Quedas da Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC), com objetivo de identificar evidências sobre seus elementos, mensuração, comparação com indicadores existentes e construir definições constitutivas. Foi efetuada revisão integrativa entre abril e novembro de 2009, mediante identificação da questão, estabelecimento de critérios de inclusão/exclusão, extração das informações, avaliação, interpretação e síntese. Destacaram-se pesquisas transversais e perspectivas de especialistas. Os indicadores Uso de recursos de correção da visão e Uso de sapatos amarrados e do tamanho adequado foram considerados insuficientes para avaliar fatores de risco como déficits sensoriais e roupas/calçados inadequados. Percebe-se que algumas definições precisam ser melhor desenvolvidas e que esse resultado de enfermagem merece refinamento sobretudo referente aos indicadores. Foram identificados 22 indicadores e definições foram propostas baseadas nas evidências da literatura

Variáveis relacionadas ao processo de adesão a um programa de prevenção de quedas em idosos cadastrados na Estratégia de Saúde da Família

Introduction: Falls among older adults is a public health problem, therefore it is necessary preventive actions, however the adherence is the major problem faced by practitioners and researchers working on falls prevention programs. Objective: To evaluate the variables related to the adherence to falls prevention programs among the elderly enrolled in a Basic Health Unit (BHU). Methods: Was performed an observational cross-sectional analytical study. All elderly registered in a BHU and able to ambulate independently were invited to participate in a falls prevent program. The Elderly who Adhered to the Program (EAP) were evaluated at BHU; and the Elderly Not Adhered to the Program (ENAP) were identified and assessed at home. The assessment for both groups was performed using an evaluation form containing personal data, measures and clinical scales to assess cognitive status, balance, mobility, fear of falling, handgrip strength. Data were analyzed with SPSS 20.0. In addition to this assessment, the ENAP underwent a semi structured interview, in which we used the qualitative approach based on the figure of the Collective Subject Discourse. Results: The study included 222 elderly, 111 EAP and 111ENAP, most aged between 70 and 79 years (48.2%), female (68.5%), married (52.3%) and illiterate (47.7%). Consolidated as protective factors for adherence, worst rates of physical activity (p = 0.001), balance (p = 0.010) and cognition (p = 0.007). The interview of ENAP identified two themes: "Local implementation of programs for the prevention of falls" and "Relationship between BHU and the elderly health care," and found that the elderly who did not adhere were unable to displace and did not mention that primary care programs are related to health care in elderly. Conclusions: Elderly who do not adhere to the program differ from elderly who adhere as worst indices of cognition, balance and physical activity which implies greater risk of falling; and they were unable to participate in falls prevention program and by to be caregiver and showed displacement difficult

Procedimentos pedagógicos no ensino fundamental voltados para a prevenção de quedas acidentais

Pós-graduação em Educação - FFC

Independência funcional de idosos no pós-operatório de cirurgia de fêmur proximal: papel do cuidador

Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva - FMB

Cuidadores informais de idosos em pós-operatório de cirurgia de fêmur proximal: prevenção de novas quedas

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

ANALYSIS OF THE BALANCE CONTROL IN SURFERS DURING THE ERECT POSTURE

Background: Surfing is a sport that has become considerably popular, which increased interest in research about the aspects that can influence on the performance of these athletes, such as injuries, aerobic fitness and reaction time. Due to the ever-changing environment and high instability required for surfing, the surfers must develop some neuromuscular skills (agility, balance, muscle strength and flexibility) to acquire better performance in this modality. Nevertheless, there are still few scientific studies concerned about the investigation of these motor skills in surfing. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the balance control in surfers compared to practitioners of other physical activities. Methods: Participants remained on a force platform while performing tasks involving visual deprivation (eyes open or closed) and somatosensory disturbance (steady surface or use of foam), with covariation of experimental conditions. The following variables were analyzed: speed and root mean square (RMS) displacement of the center of pressure in the anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) directions. Results: The results showed no difference between groups during the experimental conditions, that is to say, both surfers and the control group varied over the conditions of eyes closed and on foam. Conclusion: Although surfing requires the surfer to have great balance control, the results did not reveal a relationship between this sport and better performance in balance control. However, we must consider the small sample size and the fact that this sport requires dynamic balance, while the study evaluated static balance.

Health-protective behaviours and risk of fall-related hip fractures: a population-based case-control study

Background: fall-related hip fractures are one of the most common causes of disability and mortality in older age. The study aimed to quantify the relationship between lifestyle behaviours and the risk of fall-related hip fracture in community-dwelling older people. The purpose was to contribute evidence for the promotion of healthy ageing as a population-based intervention for falls injury prevention. Methods: a case-control study was conducted with 387 participants, with a case-control ratio of 1:2. Incident cases of fall-related hip fracture in people aged 65 and over were recruited from six hospital sites in Brisbane, Australia, in 2003-04. Community-based controls, matched by age, sex and postcode, were recruited via electoral roll sampling. A questionnaire designed to assess lifestyle risk factors, identified as determinants of healthy ageing, was administered at face-to-face interviews. Results: behavioural factors which had a significant independent protective effect on the risk of hip fracture included never smoking [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 0.33 (0.12-0.88)], moderate alcohol consumption in mid- and older age [AOR: 0.49 (0.25-0.95)], not losing weight between mid- and older age [AOR: 0.36 (0.20-0.65)], playing sport in older age [AOR: 0.49 (0.29-0.83)] and practising a greater number of preventive medical care [AOR: 0.54 (0.32-0.94)] and self-health behaviours [AOR: 0.56 (0.33-0.94)]. Conclusion: with universal exposures, clear associations and modifiable behavioural factors, this study has contributed evidence to reduce the major public health burden of fall-related hip fractures using readily implemented population-based healthy ageing strategies.

Definições para o resultado de enfermagem comportamento de prevenção de quedas: uma revisão integrativa

Devido à necessidade de mensurar o risco de quedas em concordância à linguagem padronizada de enfermagem, foi selecionado o resultado de enfermagem Comportamento para Prevenção de Quedas da Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC), com objetivo de identificar evidências sobre seus elementos, mensuração, comparação com indicadores existentes e construir definições constitutivas. Foi efetuada revisão integrativa entre abril e novembro de 2009, mediante identificação da questão, estabelecimento de critérios de inclusão/exclusão, extração das informações, avaliação, interpretação e síntese. Destacaram-se pesquisas transversais e perspectivas de especialistas. Os indicadores Uso de recursos de correção da visão e Uso de sapatos amarrados e do tamanho adequado foram considerados insuficientes para avaliar fatores de risco como déficits sensoriais e roupas/calçados inadequados. Percebe-se que algumas definições precisam ser melhor desenvolvidas e que esse resultado de enfermagem merece refinamento sobretudo referente aos indicadores. Foram identificados 22 indicadores e definições foram propostas baseadas nas evidências da literatura

Technology enhancement - A full role for the elderly.

An invited address to the University of Melbourne's Graduate House Seminar program, covering the interactions between technology and the elderly from the point of view of the regulatory and governance failures that are leading to inappropriate results. Issues of codesign, IT access, mobility, falls prevention are specifically addressed. Draws somewhat from Wigan, M.R. (2013) Constructing Age and Technology as Augmentation, not Degradation. IEEE ISTAS Conference, Toronto June 25-27, pp 136-143

Definições para o resultado de enfermagem comportamento de prevenção de quedas: uma revisão integrativa

Devido à necessidade de mensurar o risco de quedas em concordância à linguagem padronizada de enfermagem, foi selecionado o resultado de enfermagem Comportamento para Prevenção de Quedas da Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC), com objetivo de identificar evidências sobre seus elementos, mensuração, comparação com indicadores existentes e construir definições constitutivas. Foi efetuada revisão integrativa entre abril e novembro de 2009, mediante identificação da questão, estabelecimento de critérios de inclusão/exclusão, extração das informações, avaliação, interpretação e síntese. Destacaram-se pesquisas transversais e perspectivas de especialistas. Os indicadores Uso de recursos de correção da visão e Uso de sapatos amarrados e do tamanho adequado foram considerados insuficientes para avaliar fatores de risco como déficits sensoriais e roupas/calçados inadequados. Percebe-se que algumas definições precisam ser melhor desenvolvidas e que esse resultado de enfermagem merece refinamento sobretudo referente aos indicadores. Foram identificados 22 indicadores e definições foram propostas baseadas nas evidências da literatura

Novel car carrier design : prevention of falls from heights

This article reports the details of a research on novel design in the field of semitrailer sector and discuss design by hazard prevention techniques. The novel design made addresses occupational health and safety (OHS)concerns of fall from heights. The research includes a detailed survey of national data sources to examine the fatalities caused due to fall from heights in car carriers. The study investigates OHS recommendations in Australia for semitrailer sector. Often injuries are caused due to drivers working above the 1.5 meter height for loading, unloading of the cars, moving the decks up, down, strapping the cars, and slipperly. The new design is developed using latest computer aided design and engineeing (CAD, CAE), product data management (PDM), virtual design process (VDP). The new car carrier design excels in reducing the risks of injuries to drivers and new bench mark for OHS standards. The new design has all the decks operated with hydraulics and uses unique ratchet lock mechanism (fool proof design) and loading happens at a safe working height (below 1.5 meter). All the cars are strapped on the safe working height, and then car desks operated hydraulically to transfer them to the required position. This also includes the car on the prime mover, which shuttles across from one deck to other using hydraulic and rack-pinion mechanisms. The novel design car carrier solves the problem of falls from height: next step would be to transfer this technology across other similar effected sectors.

Prevention of falls in the elderly in the home: promoting active ageing

Objective: To determine the frequency of falls and identify risk factors in the homes of the elderly under the Home Care Service of a village in Alentejo (Portugal). Method: Exploratory, descriptive study. The target group were elderly persons under the Home Care Service (23). The questionnaire consists of open and closed questions, and was based on the Jefferson Area Board for Aging Safety in the Home Assessment; Instrument to Assess the Risk of Falls and Adaptations to Prevent Falls at Home. Results: Of the 23 seniors, 13 were men; the mean age was 85; 10 widowers; 11 live alone; 12 cannot read or write; 17 have experienced falls, loss of balance being the main cause. They report changes in vision (21), hearing (14) and rheumatic diseases (14); hypertension (19); they use 4 or more drugs on a daily basis (16). Conclusion: The physiological changes associated with ageing may increase the risk of falls. Due to the consequences, it is a priority field in community intervention.