Journal ArticleDOI
Postural responses and effector factors in persons with unexplained falls: results and methodologic issues
TLDR
In this population of persons with unexplained falls who demonstrated substantial impairments in functional balance, effector factors appear more impaired than automatic postural responses, which may require further development before it can be useful to study balance problems in older persons.Abstract:
Automatic postural responses and effector factors were examined in 10 persons with unexplained falls after clinical examination and 24 older controls. Fallers were more unstable than controls on clinical tests of balance (20% of fallers vs 79.2% of controls were able to stand on one foot (P less than .005), 40% of fallers and 100% of controls were stable while turning in place (P less than .001), postural stress test median score was 12 for fallers and 20 for controls (P less than 0.001). We found prolonged tibialis anterior latency (fallers 158.8 +/- 23.7, controls 143.2 +/- 15.7 milliseconds, P = 0.03), marked losses in ankle strength (dorsiflexion: faller 3.2 +/- 2.9, controls 8.9 +/- 4.2 foot-pounds, P less than 0.001; plantarflexion: fallers 7.9 +/- 5.3, controls 21.4 +/- 11.1 foot-pounds, P less than 0.001), and decreases in range of motion (ankle plantarflexion: fallers 29.2 +/- 7.0, controls 37.8 +/- 12.4 degrees, P = 0.02). Gastrocnemius latency and electromyographic (EMG) measures of sequence showed no differences between fallers and controls. Sequence measures were not symmetric between the lower extremities in either fallers or controls. In this population of persons with unexplained falls who demonstrated substantial impairments in functional balance, effector factors appear more impaired than automatic postural responses. Alternatively, contemporary analysis of automatic postural responses may require further development before it can be useful to study balance problems in older persons.read more
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Book ChapterDOI
A Physiological Profile Approach to Falls Risk Assessment and Prevention
TL;DR: The purpose of this perspective article is to describe the use of a physiological profile approach to falls risk assessment and prevention that has been developed by the Falls and Balance Research Group of the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney, Australia.
Journal ArticleDOI
A comparison of computer-based methods for the determination of onset of muscle contraction using electromyography
Paul W. Hodges,Bang H. Bui +1 more
TL;DR: This study compared the relative accuracy of a range of computer-based techniques with respect to EMG onset determined visually by an experienced examiner and found several methods accurately selected the time of onset of EMG activity.
Journal ArticleDOI
Physiological factors associated with falls in older community-dwelling women
TL;DR: To determine the prevalence of impaired vision, peripheral sensation, lower limb muscle strength, reaction time, and balance in a large community‐dwelling population of women aged 65 years and over, and to determine whether impaired performances in these tests are associated with falls.
Falls in older people: risk factors and strategies for prevention.
TL;DR: A physiological profile approach to falls risk assessment and prevention and strategies for prevention - from research into practice are put into practice.
Journal ArticleDOI
Community‐based group exercise improves balance and reduces falls in at‐risk older people: a randomised controlled trial
TL;DR: Findings indicate that participation in a weekly group exercise programme with ancillary home exercises can improve balance and reduce the rate of falling in at-risk community dwelling older people.
References
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“Mini-mental state”: A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician
Marshal F. Folstein,Marshal F. Folstein,Susan E B Folstein,Susan E B Folstein,Paul R. McHugh,Paul R. McHugh +5 more
TL;DR: A simplified, scored form of the cognitive mental status examination, the “Mini-Mental State” (MMS) which includes eleven questions, requires only 5-10 min to administer, and is therefore practical to use serially and routinely.
A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician
TL;DR: The Mini-Mental State (MMS) as mentioned in this paper is a simplified version of the standard WAIS with eleven questions and requires only 5-10 min to administer, and is therefore practical to use serially and routinely.
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Risk factors for falls among elderly persons living in the community.
TL;DR: It is concluded that falls among older persons living in the community are common and that a simple clinical assessment can identify the elderly persons who are at the greatest risk of falling.
Journal ArticleDOI
Risk factors for recurrent nonsyncopal falls. A prospective study.
TL;DR: Risk factors for having a single fall were few and relatively weak, but multiple falls were more predictable, and increased odds of two or more falls for persons who had difficulty standing up from a chair, difficulty performing a tandem walk, arthritis, Parkinson's disease, and a fall with injury during the previous year were found.
Journal ArticleDOI
Fall risk index for elderly patients based on number of chronic disabilities
TL;DR: The mobility test, the best single predictor of recurrent falling, may be useful clinically because it is simple, recreates fall situations, and provides a dynamic, integrated assessment of mobility.