Development of a wheeled walker braking device using the four-bar mechanism

2019 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 429-437
Author(s):  
ChangMin Choi ◽  
Se-Han Lee ◽  
DongGeon Lee ◽  
SoungKyun Hong ◽  
SeungHyeon Pyo ◽  
...  

Abstract The elderly population in many countries has been rising rapidly, and falls are a serious event many elderly people experience. Assistive equipment is actively used to reduce falls among elderly people. Popular types of assistive equipment include canes, electric wheelchairs, and wheeled walkers. Wheeled walkers support the body of elderly people, making their gait comfortable as they age or recover from injuries. Wheeled walkers may be equipped with hand brakes; however, frail older people may experience difficulty using such hand brakes, as they require force to operate. Thus, in the present study, a braking method using a wire connected to a user’s belt or clothes was designed and implemented; if the tension of the wire connecting the safety device and the user exceeds a critical value, the wheeled walker brakes, which can prevent the rapid motion of walkers. Two feasibility tests of the wheeled walker with the braking device were conducted: one with 10 healthy adults in their 20s and the other with 10 elderly people over 65 years of age; the tests measured the braking time and speed control using a speed measuring device. The results of the first and second feasibility tests demonstrated that the average braking time of participants was 50.3 ms and 50.7 ms, respectively. All participants in the feasibility tests succeeded in the speed control test. Thus, based on the results, the braking device on the wheeled walker worked properly.

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 2008-2014

This research study focuses on the determination factors of elderly that still continue their work activities in the city of Palembang. The purpose of this study is to find out how the influence of Social Security, Education and Health on the decision of the elderly people to continue their work activities in Palembang. The method of data analysis in this study uses the binary logistic regression method in which all variables (independent and dependent) use 2 categories (binary). The results of the estimated data, it is known that the variable Social Security, Education and Health has a significant influence on the decision of the elderly people to continue their work activities in Palembang. Odds Ratio value of 0.046 means that the elderly population who have an elderly social security program have a probability of choosing not to work by 0.046 times when compared to the elderly population who does not have an elderly social security program. Odds Ratio value of 12.298 means that the elderly population completing tertiary education has a probability of choosing to continue working 12.298 times compared to the elderly population completing primary and secondary education. Odds Ratio value of 20.153 means that the elderly population who goes to the doctor/clinic for treatment at least once per 3 months has a chance of continuing to work 20,153 times compared to the elderly population who goes to the doctor/clinic for treatment more than once every 3 months. Nagelkerke's R-Square value is 0.524. This implies that 52.4% of the variation in the independent variable can explain the dependent variable, while the remaining 47.6% is explained by non-model factors or by other variables not examined.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 4337
Author(s):  
Neri Maria Cristina ◽  
d’Alba Lucia

Nutritional well-being is a fundamental aspect for the health, autonomy and, therefore, the quality of life of all people, but especially of the elderly. It is estimated that at least half of non-institutionalized elderly people need nutritional intervention to improve their health and that 85% have one or more chronic diseases that could improve with correct nutrition. Although prevalence estimates are highly variable, depending on the population considered and the tool used for its assessment, malnutrition in the elderly has been reported up to 50%. Older patients are particularly at risk of malnutrition, due to multiple etiopathogenetic factors which can lead to a reduction or utilization in the intake of nutrients, a progressive loss of functional autonomy with dependence on food, and psychological problems related to economic or social isolation, e.g., linked to poverty or loneliness. Changes in the aging gut involve the mechanical disintegration of food, gastrointestinal motor function, food transit, intestinal wall function, and chemical digestion of food. These alterations progressively lead to the reduced ability to supply the body with adequate levels of nutrients, with the consequent development of malnutrition. Furthermore, studies have shown that the quality of life is impaired both in gastrointestinal diseases, but especially in malnutrition. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of malnutrition in elderly people is necessary to promote the knowledge of age-related changes in appetite, food intake, homeostasis, and body composition in order to better develop effective prevention and intervention strategies to achieve healthy aging.


1992 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiska Cohen-Mansfield ◽  
Uriel Leviatan

This paper investigates the importance of the work role for elderly people and how it contributes to life satisfaction. Data from the kibbutz population, where gradual retirement is practiced, show that elderly people in the kibbutz clearly wish to continue work as long as possible. Results also indicate that the wish to continue working is coupled with the work domain having a primary importance in their lives. The societal arrangements of the kibbutzim with regard to the work of the elderly seem to facilitate utilization of the work role for the elderly population.


2000 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 254-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Kinn ◽  
Linda Galloway

Falling is a major problem for the elderly population and much research has been done to investigate the risk factors for and means of preventing falls. However, very little research has been carried out looking at if and how therapists teach elderly people how to rise after a fall. This postal survey was undertaken to investigate whether therapists do anything to try to prevent falls, assess elderly people for suitability and teach them how to rise after a fall. The results showed that almost all the respondents (127 of 137) identified falling as a problem that they had to deal with in their patients over 65 years. The main focus of occupational therapists was to prevent falls by making environmental changes (for example, removing hazards) whereas physiotherapists were involved in physical changes (for example, balance training). Over half the respondents had considered teaching people how to rise after a fall. A range of different methods was used, which broadly fell into physical and verbal instructions or referral to other health care professionals. The sources of knowledge for teaching how to rise after a fall came mainly from previous clinical experience. Falls are an acknowledged problem in the elderly population and among these hospital and community based therapists about half had considered teaching or had taught elderly people how to rise after a fall.


2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1155-1167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chihye Bae ◽  
Hyunjung Lee ◽  
Chungyoon Chun

This study aims to develop a method to predict thermal sensation in elderly people. To identify the point on the body where skin temperature can best predict thermal sensation in elderly people aged 65 or older and develop a thermal comfort measurement model that can replace the psychological scale, experiments were conducted in a stainless steel wall finish climate chamber and at the seven senior welfare centres in Korea. The results of the climate chamber experiment with 30 healthy elderly people (15 males, 15 females) showed that there was a correlation between thermal sensation and local skin temperature on the back of the hand, the upper arm, the top of the foot and the cheek. This developed thermal sensation prediction model was then applied in a field study at senior welfare centres to verify whether the model could be applied to a large number of elderly subjects in different locations. The field study with 294 elderly people (111 males, 183 females) shows that cheek and back of the hand skin temperatures were useful in predicting thermal sensation in the elderly, and predicted thermal sensation based on the skin temperature of the cheek had the strongest correlation with thermal sensation among the participants.


1989 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
John A. Krout

This article examines data on rural versus urban differences in health dependency for a random sample of 600 western New York elderly people residing in a range of community settings from farm areas to a metropolitan central city. Data were collected via personal interviews, and health dependency was operationalized as an index composed of nine criterion measures. The nonmetropolitan elderly population is found to be less health dependent as are elderly persons who are younger, white, married, and have higher incomes. However, the rural/urban variable is not a significant predictor of health dependency when included in a multiple-regression analysis. These findings do not support the rural elderly health disadvantage argument and serve to illustrate some of the shortcomings of existing research on this topic.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 39-39
Author(s):  
Malay Kanti Mridha ◽  
Md Mokbul Hossain ◽  
Md Showkat Ali Khan ◽  
Abu abdullah Mohammad Hanif ◽  
Mehedi Hasan ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Though Bangladesh is passing through demographic, epidemiologic and nutritional transitions, national estimates on nutrition and health status of the elderly population are largely unknown. We aimed to determine the status of selected health and nutrition indicators among the elderly population in Bangladesh. Methods For the first time in Bangladesh, we included elderly population (≥60 years old females and males) as a separate population group in the national food security and nutrition surveillance round 2018–2019. We collected data on dietary diversity, nutritional status, behavioral risk factors of non-communicable diseases, blood pressure, and self-reported chronic diseases from 4,818 elderly people (48% female) living in 82 clusters (57 rural, 15 non-slums urban, and 10 slums) randomly selected from eight administrative division of Bangladesh. Results Majority (59% in rural, 53% in non-slum urban, and 69% in slums) of elderly people were consuming an inadequately diverse (4 or less food groups out of 10) diet. Overall, 89% of elderly people were malnourished (20%) or at risk of malnutrition (69%). The highest prevalence of malnutrition was in Mymensingh division (37%) followed by Sylhet division (27%). The prevalence of obesity was 5%, 16%, and 11%, in rural, non-slum urban, and slums, respectively. The national prevalence of smoking, smokeless tobacco consumption, physical inactivity was 18%, 52%, and 38%, respectively. There was a high burden of hypertension (49% in rural, 53% in non-slum urban, and 39% in slums). Overall, 16% of elderly people had heart diseases, 14% had chronic respiratory diseases, 3% had kidney diseases, 9% had diabetes, 8% had stroke, 0.5% had cancer and 1.4% had mental health problems. Conclusions The government of Bangladesh should design and implement health and nutrition programs among the elderly population. The regional differences in the prevalence of health and nutrition indicators should be considered while designing such programs. Funding Sources Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Bangladesh


Author(s):  
Fatemeh Kaseb ◽  
Zahra Motavalian ◽  
Hossein Fallahzadeh

Introduction: Water, as one of the most essential nutrients, is involved in almost all biochemical processes of the human body. Although different degrees of dehydration have various symptoms such as physical and mental decline, severe dehydration is associated with decreased survival capacity in the physiological environment of the body that can put individuals, especially the elderly, at the risk of death. The present study aimed to determine the status of fluid intake and its association with cognitive impairments in the elderly people of Naein City in 2018. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 225 randomly selected elderlies in Naein City. Data collection tools included demographic questionnaire, Mini–Mental State Examination, and 24-hour food recall questionnaire. The obtained data were analyzed using ANOVA, t-test and chi-square via SPSS software. Results: The mean of total fluid intake was 2637.05 ± 772.35 ml / day. Among 225 participants, 36.4%, 37.3%, and 26.2% had normal, mild, and moderate cognitive impairment, respectively. Cognitive impairment had a significant relationship with gender, occupational status, level of education, marital status, and place of residence (p < 0.05). No significant relationship was observed between the mean of water consumption and cognitive impairment (p = 0.6). Conclusion: The amount of fluid intake in elderly people living in Naein City was at a satisfactory level. Since no significant relationship was observed between the amount of fluid intake and cognitive impairments and more than half of the participants had cognitive impairments, we hypothesize that other factors are  involved in  prevalent of cognitive impairment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (9) ◽  
pp. 1697-1702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magdalena Sobiech ◽  
Maciej Kochman ◽  
Małgorzata Drelich ◽  
Tomasz Blicharski ◽  
Mirosław Jabłoński

Physical activity is one of the most important element of a healthy lifestyle and determinant of the physical and mental health. According to the WHO, limited physical activity is the fourth most common premature deaths risk factor in the world. Regular sport and active recreation is very important for our health. Physical exercise is the most effective method used by physiotherapists to prevent and slow down the aging process of the body, and consequently, diseases of elderly, such as: osteoporosis, injuries caused by falls, diabetes or hypertension. Physical activity has a positive effect on the quality of life and cognitive functions of elderly. People over 65 years constitute about 40-50% of people who require specialist medical care in the world. Therefore, health and medical professionals dealing with preventive healthcare and treatment of elderly people should have basic knowledge in geriatric rehabilitation, as well as to be able to plan suitable physiotherapy program adequate to the needs of older people. To assess the functional status of the patient, as well as the effectiveness of the training, various types of functional tests are used, specially designed for the elderly. These tests are based on the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (COG) considering the state of health, physical and mental fitness as well as socio-environmental conditions. The physiotherapeutic program should be based on functional training involving the entire human body, i.e. nervous, muscular, skeletal, sensory and balance systems.


2010 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-153
Author(s):  
Dubravka Markovic ◽  
Milica Jeremic-Knezevic ◽  
Bojana Milekic ◽  
Daniela Djurovic-Koprivica

Craniomandibular dysfunction is very common disorder of the oral and facial system and therefore a significant problem in dental practice. The etiology of this disorder is very complex and variable including congenital disorders and developmental abnormalities, traumas in the area of face and jaw, unbalanced occlusion, systemic and local diseases or psychogenic factors. The symptoms can be very different and vary in intensity and duration from person to person, often are in correlation with other oral para-functions. The intensity of symptoms is usually associated with gender or age of the patients. Elderly population is particularly interesting because these changes occur in addition to atrophic and degenerative changes in temporomandibular joint (TMJ), multiple teeth loss, present dentures, limitation of physical activity and others. Research conducted in many European countries have shown that the pain in TMJ is one of the most dominate symptoms of craniomandibular dysfunction and it often occurs in males. However, it is not easy to prove more frequent presence of dysfunction in the elderly people.


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