Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Comparison of Ai Chi and Impairment-Based Aquatic Therapy for Older Adults With Balance Problems: A Clinical Study
Conclusions: There were no significant differences found in balance measures, balance confidence, or pain levels for community-dwelling older adults between the Ai Chi and IBAT programs. Physical outcome measures improved with APT but patient-reported measures did not. Further study is indicated to determine the most effective treatment frequency and duration for this population. (Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy)
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - September 20, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Screening for Cognitive Impairment as a Part of Falls Risk Assessment in Physical Therapist Practice
Conclusions: Considering the number of older adults at risk for falling and the likelihood of undiagnosed cognitive impairment, PTs should screen for cognitive deficits as a part of falls risk assessments. (Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy)
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - September 20, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Changes in Function After a 6-Month Walking Intervention in Patients With Intermittent Claudication Who Are Obese or Nonobese
Background and Purpose: Both obesity and peripheral artery disease (PAD) limit function and may work additively to reduce mobility. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of a 6-month, center-based walking program on mobility function between adults who are weight-stable obese and nonobese with PAD. Methods: This is a secondary data analysis of 2 combined studies taken from previous work. Fifty-three adults with PAD and intermittent claudication participated in 6 months of treadmill training or standard of care. Patients were divided into 4 groups for analyses: exercise nonobese (Ex), exercise obese (ExO), s...
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - September 20, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Age-Related Imbalance Is Associated With Slower Walking Speed: An Analysis From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
In this study, we evaluated whether imbalance that occurs as part of healthy aging is associated with slower walking speed in a nationally representative sample of older adults. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the previously collected 1999 to 2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data to evaluate whether age-related imbalance is associated with slower walking speed in older adults aged 50 to 85 years (n = 2116). Balance was assessed on a pass/fail basis during a challenging postural task—condition 4 of the modified Romberg Test—and walking speed was determined using a 20-ft...
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - September 20, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Short-Term Effect of BalanceWear Therapy on Mobility in Older Adults With Mobility Limitations
Conclusion: A short-term BWT intervention resulted in improvements in mobility on the SPPB among older adults with limited mobility. (Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy)
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - September 20, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Self-reported Sitting Time is Associated With Decreased Mobility in Older Adults
Conclusions: Sitting time in older adults can be reliably measured with a reported measure (a recall strategy) over a 1-week interval. Older adults who spend more time sitting are more likely to experience mobility limitation. (Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy)
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - June 17, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Interrater Reliability of the 6-Minute Walk Test in Women With Hip Fracture
Conclusion: The interrater reliability of the 6MWT is excellent, and changes of more than 21.4 m (group level) and 59.4 m (individual participants with hip fracture) indicate a real change in the 6MWT. Measuring hip fracture-related pain during testing is recommended for individuals with hip fracture who undergo the 6MWT. (Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy)
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - June 17, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Daily Life Physical Activity Modulates the Effects of an Exercise Program on Lower-Extremity Physical Function in Japanese Older Adults
Conclusion: Regardless of decreasing or maintaining daily life PA, the square-stepping exercise program could improve aspects of LEPF that require complex physical performance. However, a greater effect can be expected when participants maintain their daily life PA outside the exercise program. (Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy)
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - June 17, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Relative Strength at the Hip, Knee, and Ankle Is Lower Among Younger and Older Females Who Are Obese
Discussion: Absolute strength among obese participants was 29% higher in DF (P = .002), 27% higher in KE (P = .004), and 23% higher in HF (P = .001), compared with healthy weight participants. Strength relative to body mass among obese participants was 31% lower in PF (P (Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy)
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - June 17, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Health Characteristics, Neuromuscular Attributes, and Mobility Among Primary Care Patients With Symptomatic Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: A Secondary Analysis
Discussion: Five participants met criteria for having SLSS. Differences are reported in medians and interquartile ranges. Participants with SLSS reported more global pain, a greater number of comorbid conditions [SLSS: 7.0 (2.0) vs no-SLSS: 4.0 (2.0), P (Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy)
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - June 17, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Physical Functioning After 1, 3, and 5 Years of Exercise Among People With Parkinson's Disease: A Longitudinal Observational Study
Discussion: Over half of the participants initially evaluated completed at least 1 year of the fitness program (27 of the 46 = 59%) and a proportion completed 3 years (14 of the 39 = 39%), and 5 years (7 of the 24 = 29%). At baseline, consistent exercisers were younger than those who dropped out (63.9 vs 69.9 years, P (Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy)
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - June 17, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Introducing a Third Timed Up & Go Test Trial Improves Performances of Hospitalized and Community-Dwelling Older Individuals
Discussion: The fastest trial was trial 3 for 47 (57%), trial 2 for 25 (31%), and trial 1 for 10 (12%). Repeated-measures analyses of variance with Bonferroni corrections showed that TUG times improved from trial 1 to trial 3 (P (Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy)
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - June 17, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Age-Related Changes in Postural Sway Are Not Consistent Between Land and Aquatic Environments
Conclusions: Water immersion to the chest with high jet intensities produces the greatest CoP sway in both groups. This is likely a result of buoyancy and perturbation intensity. Less sway in the older group may reflect a strategy that reduces degrees of freedom for this group when faced with these stability challenges. (Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy)
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - June 17, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Short- and Long-Term Effects of Balance Training on Physical Activity in Older Adults With Osteoporosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Conclusions: The short-term evaluation showed that balance training increased habitual PA in community-dwelling older adults with osteoporosis. A significantly higher proportion of participants in the intervention group reached a level of 5000 or more steps/day, which is important for overall health. This effect was not associated with improvements in HRQoL, gait speed, balance performance, or fall-related concerns, and did not persist through the long-term follow-up. To accomplish a sustained PA change, a prolonged intervention or more support regarding habitual PA may be required, such as reinforcement with personalized ...
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - March 20, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research

Predictive Value of Gait Speed and Frailty Indicators on Survival Time and Time Until Discharge to Home in Ambulant Older Patients in a Specialized Rehabilitation Center
In this study, we aim to identify variables related to frailty as simple and unambiguous predictors of time until discharge to home and until mortality for ambulant individuals residing in a rehabilitation center for older people. Methods: This was a longitudinal cohort study. We included data on people admitted to a Dutch rehabilitation center for older people between September 15, 2013, and September 10, 2014 (n = 389). At admission, we collected data regarding participants' demography, details of their admission and origin as well as their gait speed. We also asked both participants and their physiotherapists whether t...
Source: Journal of Geriatric Physical Therapy - March 20, 2017 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: Research Reports Source Type: research