Gait Speed
Gait speed is a timed assessment of a person walking a pre-determined distance at her usual pace. It has often been called the sixth vital sign in geriatrics. This is because it is both a sensitive and specific measure of physical mobility63,64. It is easy to measure and requires no special equipment. Slower gait speed has been shown to independently predict disability in the general geriatric population65,66. In elderly cancer patients improved gait speed is associated with improved survival67.
Timed Up and Go Test
In the timed up and go test (TUG), person is timed when standing up from a chair, walking 3 m, turning, walking back, and sitting down. This is another widely used quick physical mobility assessment tool68. TUG is well
Fatigue, decreased mobility and impaired balance from the rheumatoid and osteoarthritis pain also increases the risk of falls (Stanmore et al., 2013). Age related changes such as sarcopenia causes muscle tone and strength to decrease, especially in the lower limbs and as a result, balance and gait become impaired (Culross, 2008). These factors significantly influence the risk of falls and also affect the ability to carry out daily activities therefore, with a physiotherapists assistance, the nurse could introduce a personalised exercise regime to enhance muscle tone and strength (Culross, 2008). According to Neuberger et al (1997), exercise lessens fatigue and improves muscle tone and balance in older people. Recommending an exercise programme for Mrs Jones that incorporates strength training exercises and aerobics, could potentially improve muscle tone and strength and as a result improve mobility, balance and lessen the risk of falls (Bird, Pittaway, Cuisick, Rattray & Ahuja, 2013). The nurse could also suggest safety precautions such as advising Mrs Jones to use a mobility aid (Gooberman-Hill & Ebrahim,
...chronic illnesses which makes people more at risk for falling. Unfortunately falls are very common in the elderly which makes the fall risk tool very important. Last but not least the depression scale is used a lot in the elderly because depression is a very common diagnosis. Elderly lose their loved ones, they have decreased social interactions, etc. By using these assessment tools they will make a person a better, accurate nurse.
A study by Gettman et al, conducted in 1976, which compared the effect of fast walking between one, three and five days per week on blood pressure response, found that the difference in frequency was no...
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The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that health conditions associated with the ageing process are arthritis, stroke, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. These health concerns can be avoided...
The assessment includes a brief manual which appears to be written for a clinician to conduct. It gives directions on how to administer and score the items. The test kit also includes answer sheets and a computer scoring package. The test is also cohesive with the other assessment tests developed by Beck and they results can be easily combined with one another.
To access the rate of falls in nursing home, an outcome measure is selected in this study from the database of National Quality Measures C...
As the life expectancy in the United States rises, the number of elderly in the population has also expanded. These increases have led to the oldest-old (people aged 90 and older) to become the fastest growing age group in the country. The oldest-old face many unique challenges because of their age, one of which is disability. Disability in the elderly has major impact upon society 1 and will continue will be a growing burden in years to come.
The Cheetah: Built for Speed! What animal do you know can compete with a sports car in a race? Take a wild guess at it. Cheetahs!
A number of poor health outcomes including hospitalization, falls, nursing home placement, mobility disability and mortality are associated with a declined gait speed (Graham, Ostic, Fisher, & Ottenbacher, 2008). There is considerable variation in gait speed testing procedures including pace, protocol and distance however, all versions of these short, distance-based walk tests have high (>0.90) test-retest and inter-rater reliabilities (Graham et al., 2008). Kim, Park, Lee, and Lee (2016) reported that the validity of gait speed with normal pace was higher compared with maximal pace against physical function. Lower extremity function is reflected in short, distance-based assessments while longer, time-based walks (e.g. the 6-minute walk) are measures of fitness rather than functional performance (Graham et al.,
The most significant feature that differentiates hominoids from hominins is bipedal locomotion. This evidence of converting to bipedal locomotion is explained by several theories, including the need for conservation of energy, the need to walk further distances for food due to the changing environment of Africa, and the regulation of body temperature (Ember, Ember and Peregrine 2015, 110-112). A second defining feature of hominins was the slowing down of maturation in childhood, which also contributed to the gradual increase in brain size. The evidence behind these features suggest that it would have allowed mothers to produce more offspring, which would have led to the them expanding further out to more regions of Africa (Ember, Ember and
Jarvis, C. (2008). Physical examination and health assessment (5th ed.) with skills DVD. St. Louis: Saunders.
The Cooper 12 minute run test is one of the popular field tests used for measuring aerobic fitness. Invented by Dr Ken Cooper in 1968, this fitness test was firstly used to estimate the VO2max of troops in the military. Dr Cooper discovered that there was a high correlation between a person's VO2max value and the distance they can run. This test is still very popular in the military as it is used for testing basic fitness. Over the years, it has also been used by trainers and coaches to verify track and cardiovascular fitness.
Physical therapy is a fun and exciting healthcare profession that helps people. It is all about helping other people who have problems with their body, muscles, joints and other parts of their body. Patients includes accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy. Physical therapy will perform an evaluation of your problem or difficulty. They evaluate your problem by performing tests and measures to assess the problem. These tests includes muscle strength, joint motion, sensory and neurological, coordination, balance, observation, palpation, flexibility, postural screening, movement analysis, and special tests are designed for a particular problem. Next, they develop a treatment plan and goals and then manage the appropriate treatment to aid in recovery of a problem or dysfunction. Physical therapists are able to treat their patients by using many different treatments depending on the type of injury. Some of the treatments are electrical stimulation, hot and cold packs, infrared and ultrasound to reduce swelling or relieve pain. These treatments are used to help decrease pain and increase movement and function. Therapeutic exercises instructions will help restore strength, movement, balance, or skill as a guide towards full functional recovery. Physical therapy provides "hands on techniques" like massage or joint mobilizations skills to restore joint motion or increase soft tissue flexibility. They will focus on basic skills such as getting out of bed, walking safely with crutches or a walker, moving specific joints and muscles of the body. Physical therapists treatment includes patient education to teach them how to deal with a current problem and how to prevent the problem in the future. Such documentation is used to track the patient's progress, and identify areas requiring more or less attention. They encourage patients to use their own muscles. Their main goal is to improve how an individual functions at work and home.
Stathakos, D. (2005). Greek centenarians: Assessment of functional health status and life-style characteristics. Experimental Gerontology, 40(6), 512-518.