Walking with rollator: a systematic review of gait parameters in older persons

Abstract Background The aging population increasingly needs assistive technologies, such as rollators, to function and live less dependently. Rollators are designed to decrease the risk of falls by improving the gait mechanics of their users. However, data on the biomechanics of rollator assisted gait of older adults are limited, or mostly derived from experiments with younger adults. Methods and results This review summarises the data from 18 independent studies on the kinematic and kinetic gait parameters of assisted gait of older persons. All of these studies evaluated spatio-temporal parameters, but not joint angles or moments. Conclusion Due to the limited research on rollator supported gait in older adults, the number of parameters that could be analysed in this systematic review was restricted. Further research in the analysis of spatio-temporal parameters and a higher standardisation in clinical research will be necessary.

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Assessing gait parameters with accelerometer-based methods to identify older adults at risk of falls: a systematic review

European Geriatric Medicine ◽

10.1007/s41999-018-0061-3 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 435-448 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

S. Gillain ◽

M. Boutaayamou ◽

C. Beaudart ◽

M. Demonceau ◽

O. Bruyère ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

At Risk ◽

Gait Parameters ◽

Risk Of Falls

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Effects of Dance Therapy on Balance and Risk of Falls in Older Persons

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.756 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 234-235

Author(s):

Esha Chakravarty ◽

Indrani Chakravarty ◽

Ipsito Chakravarty ◽

Prasenjit Bhattacharjee

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Activities Of Daily Living ◽

Day Care ◽

Dance Therapy ◽

Daily Living ◽

Older Persons ◽

Healthy Ageing ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Day Care Centres ◽

Therapy Sessions

Abstract Loss of balance and risk of falls is a major problem in older persons. Literature shows increasing use of yoga practices and dance therapy across Indian oldage homes and day care centres to improve balance and reduce risk of falls in older persons. Aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of dance therapy with focus on therapeutic movements derived from Indian classical dances on balance and risk of falls in older adults of Day Care Centres in Calcutta Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India. Total of 24 older adults across 2 day care centres participated in the study attending dance therapy sessions for 3 months. All of them self reported problems of balance and repeated falls alongwith difficulties in performing Activities of Daily Living. Twenty one of them were females and 3 males. The mean age of the participants was 75.5 years. Limits of Stabililty (LOS) was used to measure balance and pre tests and post tests were performed. Results showed that the Limits of Stability were significantly higher (17.5%) in older persons after participating in the dance therapy sessions. This study supports that dance therapy using movements derived from Indian classical dance forms can support older persons to function with reduced risk of falls, improved balance, safely carry out mobility tasks and perform better Activities of Daily Living . Further studies can show how dance therapy can facilitate healthy ageing and influence State policies on healthy ageing.

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Timed up and go test and risk of falls in older adults: A systematic review

The journal of nutrition health & aging ◽

10.1007/s12603-011-0062-0 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 15 (10) ◽

pp. 933-938 ◽

Cited By ~ 147

Author(s):

Olivier Beauchet ◽

B. Fantino ◽

G. Allali ◽

S. W. Muir ◽

M. Montero-Odasso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Timed Up And Go ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Falls In Older Adults

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Authors’ Reply to Kahlaee et al: “A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of the Association Between Anti-hypertensive Classes and the Risk of Falls Among Older Adults”

Drugs & Aging ◽

10.1007/s40266-018-0608-5 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 95-101

Author(s):

Ka Keat Lim ◽

Hui Ting Ang ◽

Yu Heng Kwan ◽

Chuen Seng Tan ◽

Truls Ostbye ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Meta Analyses

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Texting While Walking Induces Gait Pattern Alterations in Healthy Older Adults

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting ◽

10.1177/1541931218621433 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (1) ◽

pp. 1908-1912 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Massimiliano Pau ◽

Micaela Porta ◽

Giuseppina Pilloni ◽

Federica Corona ◽

Maria Chiara Fastame ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Complexity ◽

Gait Pattern ◽

Middle Aged ◽

Similar Reduction ◽

Gait Patterns ◽

Healthy Older Adults ◽

Double Support ◽

Temporal Parameters ◽

Spatio Temporal

The use of a mobile phone for texting purposes results in distracted walking which may lead to injuries. In particular, texting while walking has been shown to induce significant alterations in gait patterns. This study aimed to assess whether changes in the main spatio-temporal parameters of gait when simultaneously engaged in texting on a smartphone and walking are different in older adults relative to young and middle- aged individuals. A total of 57 participants divided in three groups (19 older adults aged over 65, 19 young aged 20-40 and 19 middle-aged aged 41-64) were tested in two conditions: walking, and walking while texting on a smartphone. Spatio-temporal parameters of gait were assessed using a wearable accelerometer located on the lower back. The results show that texting induced similar reduction of gait speed, stride length and cadence in all groups. Slight (although significant) alterations of stance, swing and double support phases duration were found only for middle-aged participants. Such findings suggest that modifications of gait patterns due to texting seem unaffected by age, probably due to different perceptions of the cognitive complexity of the task and differential prioritization of its motor and cognitive aspects.

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A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of the Association Between Anti-Hypertensive Classes and the Risk of Falls Among Older Adults

Drugs & Aging ◽

10.1007/s40266-018-0561-3 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 35 (7) ◽

pp. 625-635 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Hui Ting Ang ◽

Ka Keat Lim ◽

Yu Heng Kwan ◽

Pui San Tan ◽

Kai Zhen Yap ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Risk Of Falls ◽

Meta Analyses

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Assistive technologies in reducing caregiver burden among informal caregivers of older adults: a systematic review

Disability and Rehabilitation Assistive Technology ◽

10.3109/17483107.2015.1087061 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 11 (5) ◽

pp. 353-360 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Keshini Madara Marasinghe

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Caregiver Burden ◽

Informal Caregivers ◽

Assistive Technologies

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The Association between Hearing Loss, Postural Control, and Mobility in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Journal of the American Academy of Audiology ◽

10.3766/jaaa.16044 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 28 (06) ◽

pp. 575-588 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Maayan Agmon ◽

Limor Lavie ◽

Michail Doumas

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Older Adults ◽

Hearing Loss ◽

Postural Control ◽

Large Body ◽

Positive Association ◽

The Elderly ◽

Objective Measures ◽

Significant Positive Association ◽

Risk Of Falls

Background: Degraded hearing in older adults has been associated with reduced postural control and higher risk of falls. Both hearing loss (HL) and falls have dramatic effects on older persons’ quality of life (QoL). A large body of research explored the comorbidity between the two domains. Purpose: The aim of the current review is to describe the comorbidity between HL and objective measures of postural control, to offer potential mechanisms underlying this relationship, and to discuss the clinical implications of this comorbidity. Data Collection and Analysis: PubMed and Google Scholar were systematically searched for articles published in English up until October 15, 2015, using combinations of the following strings and search words: for hearing: Hearing loss, “Hearing loss,” hearing, presbycusis; for postural control: postural control, gait, postural balance, fall, walking; and for age: elderly, older adults. Results: Of 211 screened articles, 7 were included in the systematic review. A significant, positive association between HL and several objective measures of postural control was found in all seven studies, even after controlling for major covariates. Severity of hearing impairment was connected to higher prevalence of difficulties in walking and falls. Physiological, cognitive, and behavioral processes that may influence auditory system and postural control were suggested as potential explanations for the association between HL and postural control. Conclusions: There is evidence for the independent relationship between HL and objective measures of postural control in the elderly. However, a more comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms underlying this relationship is yet to be elucidated. Concurrent diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of these two modalities may reduce falls and increase QoL in older adults.

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