scholarly journals Feasibility of Using a Commercial Board Game to Assess Upper Extremity Function in Older Adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 1043-1043
Author(s):  
Allison Niemiec ◽  
Yareli Lopez Hernandez ◽  
Rachel Logue ◽  
Ejlal Bin Mulayh ◽  
Susan Brown
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Upper Extremity ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Dominant Hand ◽  
Board Game ◽  
Extremity Function ◽  
Upper Extremity Function ◽  
Task Conditions

Abstract Upper extremity function, particularly the hand, declines with aging and is predictive of executive ability and independence. Standard assessments typically focus on strength partly due to a lack of easily administered functional tasks requiring multi-joint coordination and precision grasp. This study aimed to determine the feasibility of using an inexpensive board game to assess upper extremity function in older adults. Six healthy older adults (77 +/- 5.1 years) completed reaching tasks using the Connect4® game that requires grasping and placing small discs into a vertical board. Tasks included different hand configurations (unilateral, bilateral), and two dual-task conditions (serial subtraction by 7s and placing colored discs to match specific color patterns). The time to complete each task was recorded. For comparison purposes, participants completed a standardized pegboard test (Purdue Pegboard) using one or both hands. Connect4 results were similar to age-normative findings reported for the Purdue Pegboard. Dominant versus non-dominant hand performance did not differ while bilateral coordination tasks were slower than unilateral tasks for both the Purdue Pegboard (p<0.05) and Connect4 (p<0.01). Pegboard and Connect4 times were moderately to strongly correlated for all hand configurations. Dual-task conditions using Connect4 led to longer completion times (p<0.05). Preliminary results support the use of Connect4 as a functional upper extremity assessment tool for older adults. It is inexpensive, engaging, easy to use, and allows for cognitive-motor assessment using dual-task protocols, a critical factor in maintaining functional independence in older individuals. Further research will include a formal validation study across a wider age range.

scholarly journals Effect of the complex physical therapy on the upper extremity function, functional independence and cognition in post-stroke patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 61-68
Author(s):  
Iriah Uwa-Agbonikhena ◽  
Viktoriia Gryb ◽  
Viktoriia Gerasymchuk ◽  
Marta Kupnovytska-Sabadosh ◽  
Liubov Maksymchuk
Keyword(s):  
Physical Therapy ◽  
Upper Extremity ◽  
Motor Function ◽  
Hand Function ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Motor Dysfunction ◽  
Extremity Function ◽  
Upper Extremity Function ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Group 1

Motor dysfunction and cognitive impairment (CI) are the most prevalent and disabling among the stroke consequences. CI decreases the effectivity of motor rehabilitation, but motor dysfunction itself may also influence the manifestations and progression of CI. So development and study of novel physical therapy tactics, which are aiming to target both of these syndromes, becomes a subject of great interest nowadays. The aim of study was to evaluate the impact of different physical therapy approaches on the upper extremity function, cognition and functional independence in patients in 1 year after ischemic stroke. Materials and methods. Totally there were 72 patients examined in the 1-year period after first-ever anterior circulation ischemic stroke. Neurological status, upper extremity function and functional independence were assessed with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and the Functional Independence Measurement (FIM). Cognitive function was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), Trail-making Test A and B tests (TMT). Patients in Group 1 received secondary stroke prevention therapy and performed the exercises complex for general muscle function improvement for 2 months; patients in Group 2 also performed the exercise complex for paretic hand function improvement for 2 months. Results. After 2 months of physical therapy a significant increase of the FIM “Self-care”, “Transfer” and therefore subtotal motor and total scores was observed in patients in Group 2; in Group 1 significant improvement was observed only in “Transfer” and subtotal motor scores. Adding of the hand exercise to the physical therapy complex (Group 2) appeared to be more beneficial for the upper extremity motor function. Patients in Group 2 after 2 months showed increase of the FMA “Wrist” score by 40 % (p<0.05), “Hand” score by 42.8 % (p<0.01) and “Total motor function” by 30.1 % (p<0.05), and the “Total motor function” score in Group 2 was 10.9 % higher in comparison with the Group 1 (p<0.05). In cognitive status significant differences compared to baseline level were observed only in Group 2; MoCA score increased by 14.3 % (p<0.05) and TMT-B performance time decreased by 14.8 % (p<0.05). Baseline MoCA score correlated with FMA “Wrist” (r=0.32; p=0.028), “Hand” (r=0.49; p=0.001) and “Total motor function” (r=0.46; p=0.004) scores. TMT-B score showed significant correlation with the FMA “Wrist” (r=-0.032; p=0.025), “Hand” (-0.45; p=0.009), “Speed/coordination” (r=-0.023; p=0.036) and “Total motor function” (r=-0.42; p=0.023). Conclusion. Adding of exercise for hand function improvement into the physical therapy complex for post-stroke patients contributes to better upper extremity motor performance and therefore is more favourable for patients’ functional independence. Upper extremity motor impairment, especially hand and wrist dysfunction, are associated with worse cognitive performance. Hand function and fine motor skills improvement could be beneficial for the patients’ cognition. Further research is needed in regard to the prognostic significance of these findings and their impact on the treatment and rehabilitation strategies.

scholarly journals Frailty assessment in older adults using upper-extremity function: index development

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nima Toosizadeh ◽  
Christopher Wendel ◽  
Chiu-Hsieh Hsu ◽  
Edward Zamrini ◽  
Jane Mohler
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Upper Extremity ◽  
Frailty Assessment ◽  
Extremity Function ◽  
Function Index ◽  
Index Development ◽  
Upper Extremity Function

scholarly journals Effect of Leap Motion-based 3D Immersive Virtual Reality Usage on Upper Extremity Function in Ischemic Stroke Patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (10) ◽  
pp. 681-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammed Nur ÖGÜN ◽  
Ramazan KURUL ◽  
Mustafa Fatih YAŞAR ◽  
Sule Aydin TURKOGLU ◽  
Şebnem AVCI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
Upper Extremity ◽  
Self Care ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Immersive Virtual Reality ◽  
Extremity Function ◽  
Upper Extremity Function ◽  
And Control

ABSTRACT Immersive virtual reality (VR) is a technology that provides a more realistic environmental design and object tracking than ordinary VR. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of immersive VR on upper extremity function in patients with ischemic stroke. Sixty-five patients with ischemic stroke were included in this randomized, controlled, double-blind study. Patients were randomly divided into VR (n = 33) and control (n = 32) groups. The VR group received 60 minutes of the upper extremity immersive VR rehabilitation program and the control group received 45 minutes of conventional therapy and 15 minutes of a sham VR program. Rehabilitation consisted of 18 sessions of therapy, three days per week, for six weeks. The outcome measures were the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Scale (FMUE) and Performance Assessment of Self-Care Skills (PASS). In both the VR and control groups all parameters except the PASS improved over time. However independent t-test results showed that all of the FMUE, ARAT, FIM and PASS scores were significantly higher in the VR group compared with the control (p < 0.05). The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) scores of the FMUE and ARAT were higher than the cut-off MCID scores described in the literature in the VR group, whereas the FIM scores were below the cut-off MCID scores. All scores in the control group were below the cut-off scores. Immersive VR rehabilitation appeared to be effective in improving upper extremity function and self-care skills, but it did not improve functional independence.

scholarly journals Standardized Finger-Nose Test Validity for Coordination Assessment in an Ataxic Disorder

2004 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 484-489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia Gagnon ◽  
Jean Mathieu ◽  
Johanne Desrosiers
Keyword(s):  
Construct Validity ◽  
Upper Extremity ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Test Validity ◽  
Functional Independence Measure ◽  
Functional Independence ◽  
Neuromuscular Disorder ◽  
Extremity Function ◽  
Function Tests ◽  
Upper Extremity Function

Objectives:Evaluation of coordination with the Finger-Nose Test is an essential part of the neurological examination. This study explored the convergent and discriminant construct validity of the Standardized Finger-Nose Test (SFNT) in a neuromuscular disorder with ataxic features.Method:A cross-sectional study was carried out with 24 participants with recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay. Convergent construct validity was tested by correlating the SFNTwith other upper extremity function tests, a functional independence measure and social participation. Upper extremity function tests included gross and fine dexterity (Box and Block Test and Purdue Pegboard), upper extremity strength (dynamometry) and global upper extremity performance (TEMPA). The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Assessment of Life Habits scale (LIFE-H) measured functional independence and social participation respectively. Discriminant construct validity was explored by comparing performance on the SFNT between two age groups (< 40 years and ³ 40 years).Results:Convergent validity of the SFNT was demonstrated by moderate to strong correlations with gross and fine finger dexterity (r = 0.82-0.84), global upper extremity performance (0.74-0.79), functional independence (r = 0.74) and social participation (r = 0.78). Upper extremity coordination of the older group was significantly lower than in the younger group, suggesting the ability of the SFNT to discriminate between different levels of function.Conclusion:This study demonstrated the convergent and discriminant construct validity of the SFNT in a neuromuscular disorder with ataxic features.

Deficits in Selective Attention Alter Gait in Frail Older Adults

GeroPsych ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Véronique Cornu ◽  
Jean-Paul Steinmetz ◽  
Carine Federspiel
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Nursing Home ◽  
Selective Attention ◽  
Dual Task ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Gait Rehabilitation ◽  
Rehabilitation Programs ◽  
Gait Parameters ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
Task Conditions

Abstract. A growing body of research demonstrates an association between gait disorders, falls, and attentional capacities in older adults. The present work empirically analyzes differences in gait parameters in frail institutionalized older adults as a function of selective attention. Gait analysis under single- and dual-task conditions as well as selective attention measures were collected from a total of 33 nursing-home residents. We found that differences in selective attention performances were related to the investigated gait parameters. Poorer selective attention performances were associated with higher stride-to-stride variabilities and a slowing of gait speed under dual-task conditions. The present findings suggest a contribution of selective attention to a safe gait. Implications for gait rehabilitation programs are discussed.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document