scholarly journals Functional reserve in functionally independent elderly persons: a calculation of gait speed and physiological cost

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-589
Author(s):  
Paul Medina González ◽  
Rodrigo Muñoz Cofré ◽  
Máximo Escobar Cabello

Abstract Aim: To analyze the behavior of functional reserve percentage (%FR) by gender in functional elderly persons, considering speed and the physiological cost of gait. Methods: A total of 53 self-reliant elderly persons, 40 of whom were women (age 69.4±4.7 years old; BMI 31.2±4.3 kg/m2) and 13 of whom were men (age 70.8±7.2 years old; BMI 28.7±3.5 kg/m2) participated in an observational and cross-sectional study. Participants were requested to walk at comfortable (CG) and maximum gait (MG). Both modalities were performed on a 70-meter elliptical circuit over three minutes. Distance and working heart rate were recorded for the corresponding calculation of average gait speed (AGS), physiological cost index (PCI) and used working heart rate percentage (% uWHR). With this information the FR% was determined by the percentage ratio with AGS, PCI and %uWHR under comfortable versus maximum demand walk conditions. Results: The association between %FR and AGS was significantly higher in males (p=0.017), reaching values of +-20% in most subjects. The physiological %FR for PCI was ≈30% in both men and women (p=0.156), while for % uWHR was ≈40% in females and ≈45% in males (p=0.131). Conclusion: AGS is a critical threshold functionality indicator to determine FR in functionally independent Chilean elderly persons.

Author(s):  
Cindy LaPorte ◽  
Daie Johnson ◽  
Kiersten Koen ◽  
Lena Hardy ◽  
Valda Montgomery

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dominant leg, lower leg casting on energy cost during independent ambulation. The Physiological Cost Index, predicted VO2max, and gait speed values of a Quarter-Mile Walk Test, with and without lower leg casting, were utilized to determine energy cost. Methods: Thirty-five subjects who were 23 to 32 years old (mean age 25.37 ± 2.02) performed the Quarter-Mile Walk Test at their comfortable walking speed on two occasions, one with and one without lower leg casting. Resting heart rate, walking heart rate, and time to complete the test were recorded. Physiological Cost Index, predicted VO2max, and gait speed formulas were used to calculate results.Results: Physiological Cost Index increased when walking with the lower leg cast, but was not statistically significant (p=.3939). A statistically significant decrease was seen with predicted VO2max (p< .0001) and gait speed (p< .0001) when walking with a lower leg cast. Conclusions: Predicted VO2max and gait speed decreased when walking with a lower leg cast on the dominant leg. This finding indicates that as subjects altered their self-selected speed, predicted VO2max decreased with gait speed.


Gerontology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Kensuke Tashiro ◽  
Sakiko Soutome ◽  
Madoka Funahara ◽  
Yumiko Kawashita ◽  
Masayasu Kitamura ◽  
...  

Introduction: Reduced tongue pressure is one of the causes of dysphagia. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dental findings and tongue pressure, and whether prosthetic treatment prevents reduced tongue pressure. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Participants were 745 community-dwelling adults and elderly persons in the Goto Islands in Nagasaki, who underwent a health checkup for residents in 2015 and 2016. Data were collected on gender; age; grip strength; hemoglobin; Creatinine (Cr); glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c); history of stroke; smoking, drinking, exercise, and walking habits; number of teeth; wearing of removable dentures; functional units of natural teeth (n-FTUs), fixed prostheses (nif-FTUs), and removable dentures (t-FTUs); and tongue pressure. The associations between each variable and tongue pressure were examined using multiple regression analysis. Next, those with 3 or fewer n-FTUs were selected, and differences in tongue pressure were compared between those with 3 or fewer nif-FTUs and those with 4 or more nif-FTUs, using a propensity score matching method. Results: Male gender, weak grip strength, low HbA1c, no drinking, and a low number of teeth were independent factors significantly associated with lower tongue pressure. Among participants with 3 or fewer n-FTUs, the 43 with 4 or more nif-FTUs showed significantly higher tongue pressure than the 43 with 3 or fewer nif-FTUs after propensity score matching, although the number of t-FTUs was not associated with tongue pressure. Discussion/Conclusion: Tooth loss was significantly associated with lower tongue pressure. It was suggested that fixed prosthesis treatment might prevent the reduction of tongue pressure, but removable dentures did not have such an effect.


2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 779-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hiromi Mori ◽  
Isao Saito ◽  
Eri Eguchi ◽  
Koutatsu Maruyama ◽  
Tadahiro Kato ◽  
...  

Rheumatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 60 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Himri Sara ◽  
Oumokhtar Bouchra ◽  
El Fakir Samira ◽  
Atmani Samir

Abstract Background The antistreptolysins O “ASLO” are anti streptococcal antibodies directed against streptolysin O. The assay of ASLO can provide proof of infection of streptococcal origin. However, it cannot confirm the presence of RAA or the degree of severity of the disease. A level of ASLO less than or equal to a critical threshold of 200 IU/ml is considered normal in children. Several factors influence the ASLO title and therefore their standard rate such as age, geographic location and seasonal variation. The objective of this study is to determine the upper normal limit (ULN) of ASLO in healthy children with angina or RAA at the CHU Hassan II of Fez in Morocco. Methods This is a cross-sectional study carried out from January 2016 to July 2019 in the cardiopediatric unit of CHU Hassan II and the Anarjiss health center in Fez. Patients below 18 years of age were included in this study. The children are classified into 3 groups: group 1: 152 children with RAA and who are diagnosed according to the modified Jones criteria, group 2: 177 children with angina, group 3: 157 healthy children who did not have an RAA, a history of recurrent or recent pharyngitis. Patient data is collected on operating sheets. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v 21 software. To establish a normal upper limit for ASLOs, the 90 percentile was used as it is a value below which at least 90% of cases studied in each group. Results The most common age group in the 3 groups is the age group between 5 and 15 years old. The frequency of children of urban origin is greater than that of rural origin in all the groups studied. The ULN is 421.4U/ml in the group of normal children, 641.95 U/ml in the RAA group and 561.8 U/ml in the group of children with pharyngitis. The study of changes in ASLO rates over time shows that they increase significantly in angina and tend to decrease in RAA. The LSN of ASLOs by gender shows that it is higher for boys than for girls. The ULN according to the residence shows that it is higher in urban areas. As well as the LSN of ASLO according to the season shows that it is higher in the cold period, especially in winter and spring (P &lt; 0.001). With regard to age, the ULN of ASLOs is higher in the 5–15 age group. Conclusion In this study, it can be concluded that an ASLO level less than or equal to 400 U/ml is the critical threshold in a normal child, while an ASLO level &gt;400 U/ml is considered pathological in children. children in Morocco.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natália Araujo de Almeida ◽  
Annelita Almeida Oliveira Reiners ◽  
Rosemeiry Capriata de Souza Azevedo ◽  
Ageo Mário Cândido da Silva ◽  
Joana Darc Chaves Cardoso ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: to verify the prevalence of and factors associated with polypharmacy among elderly residents of the city of Cuiabá, in the state of Mato Grosso. Method: a cross-sectional study of 573 people aged 60 and over was performed. Polypharmacy was defined as the use of five or more medications. To investigate the association between polypharmacy and sociodemographic variables, health and access to medication, the Mantel Haenszel chi square test was used in bivariate analysis and Poisson regression was used in multivariate analysis. The significance level adopted was 5%. Result: the prevalence of polypharmacy was 10.30%. Statistically significant associations were found between polypharmacy and living with others, describing suffering from circulatory, endocrine, nutritional and digestive tract diseases, and referring to financial difficulties for the purchase of medicines. Conclusion: some social and health condition factors play an important role in the use of multiple medications among the elderly.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 250-257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Banibrata Das

Abstract Aims The purpose of this study was to describe the health hazards among child labourers in brickfields, and to assess occupational health problems, together with physiological and respiratory stress, compared with child control subjects. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted on 112 child brickfield workers and 120 control subjects, and a modified Nordic Questionnaire was applied to assess the discomfort felt among both groups of workers. Physiological assessment of the workload was carried out by the measurement of heart rate, blood pressure and spirometry of the workers. Results Child brickfield workers suffer from pain, especially in the lower back (97%), shoulder (88%), hands (82%), wrist (76%), neck (73%) and ankle (71%). The post-activity heart rate of the child brickfield workers was 166.5 beats/min, whereas the systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 132.2 and 67.2 mm/Hg, respectively. The forced vital capacity value of child brickfield workers was 2.04, and in the case of the controls it was 2.18, which was significantly different. The forced expiratory volumes in 1 s of experimental and control subjects were 1.82 and 1.92, respectively. The peak expiratory flow rate was significantly different between the two groups. Conclusions Most of the brick-making activities were strenuous ones that affected the children. The cardiovascular and respiratory health of the child brickfield workers has changed markedly due to strenuous activity. The child brickfield workers also experienced other occupational health problems and severe musculoskeletal pain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 79 (9) ◽  
pp. 766-773
Author(s):  
Mariana Viana Rodrigues ◽  
Mileide Cristina Stoco-Oliveira ◽  
Talita Dias da Silva ◽  
Celso Ferreira ◽  
Heloisa Balotari Valente ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Background: Analysis of autonomic modulation after postural change may inform the prognosis and guide treatment in different populations. However, this has been insufficiently explored among adolescents with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Objective: To investigate autonomic modulation at rest and in response to an active sitting test (AST) among adolescents with DMD. Methods: Fifty-nine adolescents were included in the study and divided into two groups: 1) DMD group: adolescents diagnosed with DMD; 2) control group (CG): healthy adolescents. Participants’ weight and height were assessed. Lower limb function, motor limitations and functional abilities of the participants in the DMD group were classified using the Vignos scale, Egen classification and motor function measurement, respectively. The following variables were assessed before, during and after AST: systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), respiratory rate (f), oxygen saturation and heart rate (HR). To analyze the autonomic modulation, the HR was recorded beat-by-beat. Heart rate variability (HRV) indices were calculated in the time and frequency domains. Results: Differences in relation to groups were observed for all HRV indices, except LF/HF, oxygen saturation, HR and f (p < 0.05). Differences in relation to time and the interaction effect between group and time were observed for RMSSD, SD1, SD2, SD1/SD2, LFms2 and LFnu, HFun, SBP and DBP (p < 0.05). Differences in relation to time were also observed for the indice SDNN, FC and f (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Performing the AST promoted reduced autonomic modulation and increased SBP, DBP and HR in adolescents with DMD.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliana Ladeira Garbaccio ◽  
Amanda Domingos Ferreira ◽  
Amanda Laís Gonçalves Gama Pereira

The present study aimed to assess the knowledge and practices reported by the elderly in relation to basic care of one's skin. A cross sectional study was performed from November 2011 to August 2012 in Arcos, Minas Gerais, based on a structured questionnaire administered to 250 elderly persons, with answers statistically analyzed. Knowledge and practices of self-skincare were evaluated from the median number of ten questions answered by the elderly. Most of the sample population were women (54.8%), aged between 60 and 69 years (52.4%), with a primary education (71.6%) and working in a job where they were exposed to direct sunlight (58.0%). The majority (76.4%) said they did not use protective sun filter despite considering it important (77.6%). The use of body moisturizing creams was reported by 55.6%. An association (p<0.05) was identified between the variables practice/knowledge and gender and practice outdoor activity. Further studies can be conducted as a result of the present research to clarify factors related to non-adherence to self-skincare, and educational measures should be put in place for the entire population, regardless of age, to prevent pathological skin aging.


Author(s):  
Nur Zakiah Mohd Saat ◽  
Najwa Suhaili Md Zin ◽  
Sazlina Kamaralzaman

Background: Previous studies found that the use of an iPad® in intervention programmes benefited the skills of daily living of children with autism. The purpose of the study was to determine the physiological changes in children while playing action and strategy games on an iPad. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted using Powerlab 24/6T, a blood pressure monitor, respiratory belt, and finger pulse transducer. The children were asked to play two types of game. The duration for each game was 10 minutes. The measurement of blood pressure - both systolic and diastolic, heart rate and breathing rate were taken at three consecutive times (before, during and after each game). The inclusion criteria are children aged 7 to 12 years old who have been diagnosed with a mild type of autism (Pervasive developmental disorder). The exclusion criteria were children who had co-morbidities such as epilepsy, migraine, heart, and lung problems, depression, physical disabilities and visual impairments.  Results: Nineteen children with autism participated in this study. The result indicated that the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures increased before and after playing strategy games and action games. However, compared to pre-play values, the mean heart rate and breathing rate decreased both during and after playing both types of game. Meanwhile, there was significant mean difference for breathing rate for both types of game (p<0.05). Conclusion: Playing strategy and action games did not affect the measured physiological parameters of children with autism. 


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