Journal of geriatric physical therapy
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J Geriatr Phys Ther · Jan 2010
Characteristics of walking, activity, fear of falling, and falls in community-dwelling older adults by residence.
Research focusing on community-dwelling older adults includes adults living in senior living residences (SLR) and independent community residences (ICR). Walking, physical activity, fear of falling, and fall history may differ on the basis of residence. ⋯ Older adults living in SLR compared with those in ICR had similar physical function but differed in report of fear of falling and fall history. Recognizing the possible differences in psychosocial function by place of residence is important for health care providers and researchers conducting interventions and studies for community-dwelling older adults.
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J Geriatr Phys Ther · Jan 2009
ReviewThe impact of cognitive impairment on rehabilitation outcomes in elderly patients admitted with a femoral neck fracture: a systematic review.
To evaluate the evidence of rehabilitation outcomes after the surgical repair of a hip fracture in older people with cognitive impairment. ⋯ There is some evidence that older adults with cognitive impairment who receive intensive inpatient rehabilitation after surgical repair of a hip fracture may be able to gain comparable benefit in physical function as cognitively intact patients. There is not enough information to guide recommendations of specific physical therapy interventions to optimize outcomes in this patient population. Further work is needed.
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J Geriatr Phys Ther · Jan 2009
A rehabilitative ultrasound imaging investigation of lateral abdominal muscle thickness in healthy aging adults.
Rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) is used to evaluate lateral abdominal muscle size and function during the abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), an exercise used to improve lumbar spine stability. Little is known about the size and performance of these muscles in healthy aging adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate, using RUSI, the size and symmetry of the lateral abdominal muscles bilaterally at rest and during the ADIM in healthy older adults and the reliability of these measurements. ⋯ These findings support symmetrical and preferential activation of the TrA during the ADIM in healthy older adults. Continued research on the use of RUSI as a tool for both assessment and intervention in older adults is needed.
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J Geriatr Phys Ther · Jan 2009
The long-term contribution of muscle activation and muscle size to quadriceps weakness following total knee arthroplasty.
Many older individuals have persistent quadriceps strength impairments after a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). A combination of muscle atrophy and neuromuscular activation deficits apparently contributes to residual strength impairments. The purpose of this short report is to describe the contribution of quadriceps muscle activation and muscle volume to impaired muscle strength in older individuals an average of 21 months following a TKA. ⋯ QV is a much stronger predictor of quadriceps strength than QA in individuals more than 1 year following TKA. Activation levels contributed little to strength one year following TKA, compared to its profound contribution in the first few postoperative months. Physical therapy interventions focused on improving muscle size in this population should be considered more relevant than countermeasures addressing neuromuscular activation.
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J Geriatr Phys Ther · Jan 2008
Normative data and determinants for the timed "up and go" test in a population-based sample of elderly individuals without gait disturbances.
To define the standard performance of elderly people without gait disturbances in the "Timed Up and Go" test (TUG) and investigate its determinants. ⋯ The TUG performance of elderly people over 70 without apparent gait disturbances depends on age and other non motor variables such as female gender, weight, nutritional status and cognitive impairment.