This study investigated whether 184 volunteers from 20 to 79 years of age could perform eight timed balance tests and examined the relationship between test performance and age. All subjects were able to balance with their feet together and eyes closed for 30 seconds. The ability to balance on the right and left legs did not differ significantly. Subjects over 60 years of age were unable to balance on one leg, particularly when their eyes were closed, for as long a period as younger subjects. The Pearson product-moment and Spearman correlations of age and duration of one-legged balance were -.65 and -.71 (eyes opened) and -.79 and -.75 (eyes closed). The findings suggest that when timed balance tests are performed as a part of a patient's neurologic examination, the results should be interpreted in light of the patient's age. Information is provided to assist in this interpretation.

/pdf/decrease-in-timed-balance-test-scores-with-aging-4ogsinbomf.pdf

Decrease in Timed Balance Test Scores with Aging

Purpose:Limited normative data are available for the unipedal stance test (UPST), making it difficult for clinicians to use it confidently to detect subtle balance impairments The purpose of this study was to generate normative values for repeated trials of the UPST with eyes opened and eye

/pdf/normative-values-for-the-unipedal-stance-test-with-eyes-open-4213r6ptxb.pdf

Normative values for the unipedal stance test with eyes open and closed.

Are smoking and other lifestyle factors associated with female urinary incontinence? The Norwegian EPINCONT Study.

https://uroweb.org/wp-content/uploads/Lucas-MG-et-al.-Eur-Urol-2012-6261130.-EAU-guidelines-on-assessment-and-nonsurgical-management-of-urinary-incontinence..pdf

EAU Guidelines on Assessment and Nonsurgical Management of Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is defined as “the complaint of any involuntary leakage of urine” and is a common problem in the female population with prevalence rates varying between 10% and 55% in 15- to 64-year-old women. The most frequent form of urinary incontinence in women is stress urinary incontinence, defined as “involuntary leakage on effort or exertion, or on sneezing or coughing”. The aim of this article is to systematically review the literature on urinary incontinence and participation in sport and fitness activities with a special emphasis on prevalence and treatment in female elite athletes. Stress urinary incontinence is a barrier to women’s participation in sport and fitness activities and, therefore, it may be a threat to women’s health, self-esteem and well-being. The prevalence during sports among young, nulliparous elite athletes varies between 0% (golf) and 80% (trampolinists). The highest prevalence is found in sports involving high impact activities such as gymnastics, track and field, and some ball games. A ‘stiff’ and strong pelvic floor positioned at an optimal level inside the pelvis may be a crucial factor in counteracting the increases in abdominal pressure occurring during high-impact activities. There are no randomised controlled trials or reports on the effect of any treatment for stress urinary incontinence in female elite athletes. However, strength training of the pelvic floor muscles has been shown to be effective in treating stress urinary incontinence in parous females in the general population. In randomised controlled trials, reported cure rates, defined as <2g of leakage on pad tests, varied between 44% and 69%. Pelvic floor muscle training has no serious adverse effects and has been recommended as first-line treatment in the general population. Use of preventive devices such as vaginal tampons or pessaries can prevent leakage during high impact physical activity. The pelvic floor muscles need to be much stronger in elite athletes than in other women. There is a need for more basic research on pelvic floor muscle function during physical activity and the effect of pelvic floor muscle training in female elite athletes.

Urinary Incontinence, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Exercise and Sport

The aim of this study was, to determine the frequency of urinary loss in elite women athletes and dancers. Elite athletes in eight different sports, including ballet, filled in an evaluated questionnaire about urinary incontinence while participating in their sport/dancing and during daily life activities. A total of 291 women with a mean age of 22.8 years completed the questionnaire, providing a response rate of 73.9%. Overall, 151 women (51.9%) had experienced urine loss, 125 (43%) while participating in their sport and 123 (42%) during daily life. The proportion of urinary leakage in the different sports was: gymnastics 56%, ballet 43%, aerobics 40%, badminton 31%, volleyball 30%, athletics 25%, handball 21% and basketball 17%. During sport 44% had experienced leakage a few times, 46.4% now and then, and 9.6% frequently. During daily life the figures were: 61.7% a few times, 37.4% now and then, and 0.8% frequently. Of those who leaked during sport, 95.2% experienced urine loss while training versus only 51.2% during competition (P<0.001). The activity most likely to provoke leakage was jumping. Sixty per cent (91/151) occasionally wore pads or panty shields because of urine loss. Urinary leakage is common among elite athletes and dancers, particularly during training, but also during daily life activities.

Urinary incontinence in elite female athletes and dancers.

Postural stability was measured in 100 healthy people by a quantitative, computer calculated Romberg's test. The persons were aged 20-69 years, and a table of normal ranges is provided. Older men are found to have higher sway figures than young men, while this was not significant in the group of women.

In a second part of the study the reproducibility of the method was studied in 10 healthy people. Sway was measured twice a day during 5 consecutive days of work. No significant alterations in the sway measurements were found. The individual variation coefficients ranged from 11-29% (mean value: 18%).

By the present study it is concluded that the quantitative Romberg's test is a reasonable way of measuring postural stability.

Normal ranges and reproducibility for the quantitative Romberg's test.

The repeatability of cystometric and pressure–flow data was studied in 31 female patients. The measured parameters had poor correlation coefficients, and logarithmic transforming of the data was generally not warranted. Previous studies and statistical methods of reliability measurement are reviewed. It is suggested as a subject for future studies, that urodynamic measurements are repeated in each patient so that confidence limits can be established within disease entities.

Repeatability of cystometry and pressure-flow parameters in female patients.

Background. To develop a new disposable vaginal device for use during the daytime, and test its efficacy and short-term safely in the treatment of stress incontinence.Methods. The intravaginal supp...

New disposable vaginal device (continence guard) in the treatment of female stress incontinence. Design, efficacy and short term safety.

A total of 16 normal, medium sized persons were given 20 g of alcohol every hour for 4–5 h. This yielded blood alcohol concentrations between 0.1 mg/ml and 1.7 mg/ml (0.1–1.7‰) during the 4–5 h of testing.

H. H. Thyssen

Papers

Urinary incontinence in elite female athletes and dancers.

Normal ranges and reproducibility for the quantitative Romberg's test.

Repeatability of cystometry and pressure-flow parameters in female patients.

New disposable vaginal device (continence guard) in the treatment of female stress incontinence. Design, efficacy and short term safety.

Alcohol and postural imbalance. A force plate study