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Thoracopelvic assisted movement training to improve gait and balance in elderly at risk of falling: a case series

BACKGROUND: Age-related changes in coordinated movement pattern of the thorax and pelvis may be one of the factors contributing to fall risk. This report describes the feasibility of using a new thoracopelvic assisted movement device to improve gait and balance in an elderly population with increase...

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Autores principales: Springer, Shmuel, Friedman, Itamar, Ohry, Avi
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Dove Medical Press 2018
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6016007/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29950824
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S166956
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author Springer, Shmuel
Friedman, Itamar
Ohry, Avi
author_facet Springer, Shmuel
Friedman, Itamar
Ohry, Avi
author_sort Springer, Shmuel
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: Age-related changes in coordinated movement pattern of the thorax and pelvis may be one of the factors contributing to fall risk. This report describes the feasibility of using a new thoracopelvic assisted movement device to improve gait and balance in an elderly population with increased risk for falls. METHODS: In this case series, 19 older adults were recruited from an assisted living facility. All had gait difficulties (gait speed <1.0 m/s) and history of falls. Participants received 12 training sessions with the thoracopelvic assisted movement device. Functional performance was measured before, during (after 6 sessions), and after the 12 sessions. Outcomes measures were Timed Up and Go, Functional Reach Test, and the 10-meter Walk Test. Changes in outcomes were calculated for each participant in the context of minimal detectable change (MDC) values. RESULTS: More than 25% of participants showed changes >MDC in their clinical measures after 6 treatment sessions, and more than half improved >MDC after 12 sessions. Six subjects (32%) improved their Timed Up and Go time by >4 seconds after 6 sessions, and 10 (53%) after 12 sessions. After the intervention, 4 subjects (21%) improved their 10-meter Walk Test velocity from limited community ambulation (0.4–0.8 m/s) to functional community ambulation (>0.8 m/s). CONCLUSION: Thoracopelvic assisted movement training that mimics normal walking pattern may have clinical implications, by improving skills that enhance balance and gait function. Additional randomized, controlled studies are required to examine the effects of this intervention on larger cohorts with a variety of subjects.
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spelling pubmed-60160072018-06-27 Thoracopelvic assisted movement training to improve gait and balance in elderly at risk of falling: a case series Springer, Shmuel Friedman, Itamar Ohry, Avi Clin Interv Aging Case Series BACKGROUND: Age-related changes in coordinated movement pattern of the thorax and pelvis may be one of the factors contributing to fall risk. This report describes the feasibility of using a new thoracopelvic assisted movement device to improve gait and balance in an elderly population with increased risk for falls. METHODS: In this case series, 19 older adults were recruited from an assisted living facility. All had gait difficulties (gait speed <1.0 m/s) and history of falls. Participants received 12 training sessions with the thoracopelvic assisted movement device. Functional performance was measured before, during (after 6 sessions), and after the 12 sessions. Outcomes measures were Timed Up and Go, Functional Reach Test, and the 10-meter Walk Test. Changes in outcomes were calculated for each participant in the context of minimal detectable change (MDC) values. RESULTS: More than 25% of participants showed changes >MDC in their clinical measures after 6 treatment sessions, and more than half improved >MDC after 12 sessions. Six subjects (32%) improved their Timed Up and Go time by >4 seconds after 6 sessions, and 10 (53%) after 12 sessions. After the intervention, 4 subjects (21%) improved their 10-meter Walk Test velocity from limited community ambulation (0.4–0.8 m/s) to functional community ambulation (>0.8 m/s). CONCLUSION: Thoracopelvic assisted movement training that mimics normal walking pattern may have clinical implications, by improving skills that enhance balance and gait function. Additional randomized, controlled studies are required to examine the effects of this intervention on larger cohorts with a variety of subjects. Dove Medical Press 2018-06-20 /pmc/articles/PMC6016007/ /pubmed/29950824 http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S166956 Text en © 2018 Springer et al. This work is published and licensed by Dove Medical Press Limited The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms.php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/). By accessing the work you hereby accept the Terms. Non-commercial uses of the work are permitted without any further permission from Dove Medical Press Limited, provided the work is properly attributed.
spellingShingle Case Series
Springer, Shmuel
Friedman, Itamar
Ohry, Avi
Thoracopelvic assisted movement training to improve gait and balance in elderly at risk of falling: a case series
title Thoracopelvic assisted movement training to improve gait and balance in elderly at risk of falling: a case series
title_full Thoracopelvic assisted movement training to improve gait and balance in elderly at risk of falling: a case series
title_fullStr Thoracopelvic assisted movement training to improve gait and balance in elderly at risk of falling: a case series
title_full_unstemmed Thoracopelvic assisted movement training to improve gait and balance in elderly at risk of falling: a case series
title_short Thoracopelvic assisted movement training to improve gait and balance in elderly at risk of falling: a case series
title_sort thoracopelvic assisted movement training to improve gait and balance in elderly at risk of falling: a case series
topic Case Series
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6016007/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29950824
http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S166956
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