BACKGROUND The aging process reduces both sensory capabilities and the capabilities of the motor systems responsible for postural control, resulting in a high number of falls among the elderly. Some therapeutic interventions can directly interrupt this process, including physical exercise. This study compares and examines the effects of two exercise protocols on the balance of elderly women. ...

OBJECTIVE To verify the correlation between visual gait analysis (VGA) by the Edinburgh visual gait score (EVGS) and functional aspects using the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) and Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP). METHODS Retrospective cross sectional study of 35 patients with CP. The mean age 12.61 years old, 94.3% were spastic; 34.4% he...

OBJECTIVE To develop and validate a clinical tool based on the biomechanical strategies exhibited by people with hemiparesis due to stroke during the performance of the Timed "Up and Go" test. DESIGN/METHODS The Timed "Up and Go" Assessment of Biomechanical Strategies (TUG-ABS) was developed for subjects with stroke, based on the analyses of 3 sources of information: published evidence; opini...

This study aimed to determine gait ability at hospital discharge in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty (TKA) as an indicator of the risk of falling. Fifty-seven patients undergoing primary TKA for knee osteoarthritis participated in this study. Gait variability measured with accelerometers and physical function including knee range of motion (ROM), quadriceps strength, walking speed, a...

BACKGROUND More than one-third of US adults 65 and over fall every year. These falls may cause serious injury including substantial long-term morbidity (due declines in activities of daily living) and death. The emergency department (ED) visit represents an opportunity for identifying high risk elders and potentially instituting falls-related interventions. The unique characteristic of the ED e...

OBJECTIVE To determine the aerobic power (VO(2)MAX), body composition, strength, muscular power, flexibility, and biochemical profile of an elite international squad of tug of war athletes. METHODS Sixteen male competitors (mean (SEM) age 34 (2) years) were evaluated in a laboratory. For comparative purposes, data were analysed relative to normative data for our centre and to a group of 20 ru...

Balance ability among the elderly is a key component in the activities of daily living and is divided into two types: static and dynamic. For clinicians who wish to assess the risk of falling among their elderly patients, it is unclear if more than one type of balance test can be used to measure their balance impairment. In this study, we examined the association between static balance measures...

A 69 year old male with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease participated in a 60-minute, bi-weekly training program using the Nintendo Wii fit gaming system. Pre-test/post-test assessments included: 1) The Timed up and go (TUG), 2) The Berg Balance scale (BBS), 3) Self selected gait speed, 4) Fall history, and 5) Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). After 8 weeks, the subject’s BBS score increased from...