Topic
Ambulation Difficulty
About: Ambulation Difficulty is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 4 publications have been published within this topic receiving 76 citations.
Papers
TL;DR: Variation in older adults' perceived health and functioning is investigated that is associated with self‐reported sleep disturbance, falling, and urinary incontinence, controlling for self-reported depression, ambulation difficulty, number of chronic conditions, and subjects' sociode‐mographic characteristics.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate variation in older adults' perceived health and functioning that is associated with self-reported sleep disturbance, falling, and urinary incontinence, controlling for self-reported depression, ambulation difficulty, number of chronic conditions, and subjects' sociode-mographic characteristics.
DESIGN: Multicenter prospective study (FICSIT).
SETTING: Persons age 70 and older living in the community evaluated at baseline.
PARTICIPANTS: 239 women, 113 men; mean age = 77.
MEASUREMENTS: Sleep disturbance score based on EPESE questions, recent falls history (Y/N), incontinent episodes (Y/N), CES-D score, SIP Ambulation score, and 4 MOS SF-36 scale scores.
RESULTS: Women were significantly more likely than men to report multiple conditions (sleep disturbance, falling, incontinence) and to report lower levels of functioning as measured by 3 of 4 SF-36 scales. In regression analyses, sleep disturbance and urinary incontinence were significant predictors of perceived limitation in usual role activities because of physical health problems. Depression and ambulation measures significantly predicted scores on all 4 SF-36 scales.
CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis suggests that it is important to address depressive symptomatology and ambulation difficulty—which in turn are related to sleep disturbance, falling, and urinary incontinence —in efforts to enhance older adults' perceived health and functioning.
74 citations
12 Aug 2011
TL;DR: A prototype for a walking assistance apparatus for the elderly or motor palsy patients was developed as a next-generation vehicle or movable neuro-rehabilitation training appliance, using a novel spatial parallel link mechanism and a bearing lift.
Abstract: A prototype for a walking assistance apparatus for the elderly or motor palsy patients was developed as a next-generation vehicle or movable neuro-rehabilitation training appliance, using a novel spatial parallel link mechanism and a bearing lift. The flat steps of the apparatus move in parallel with the ground; the apparatus can support entire leg alignment (including soles) and assist; walking behavior at ankle, knee and hip joints simultaneously. In order to respond the variation of equipped person's walking velocity, the length of stride and walking cycle while walking with wearing the apparatus were compensated by using the relation of walking ratio. Therefore the apparatus can be controlled in response to equipped person's will. Motor palsy and muscle weakness patients can walk by themselves by using the apparatus; patients who have ambulation difficulty can use the apparatus with weight bearing lift that we developed. Using the apparatus with the weight bearing lift prevents stumbling and enables input of walking movement to the brain motor area. It is very effective for rehabilitation to use the apparatus with the weight bearing lift. This newly developed system facilitates motor palsy and muscle weakness patients in the rehabilitation program.
9 citations
TL;DR: A prototype for a walking-assistance apparatus that serves as a next-generation vehicle or a movable neuro-rehabilitation training appliance for the elderly or motor palsy patients and those with muscle weakness can walk with the assistance of the apparatus.
Abstract: We have developed a prototype for a walking-assistance apparatus that serves as a next-generation vehicle or a movable neuro-rehabilitation training appliance for the elderly or motor palsy patients. Our prototype uses a novel spatial parallel link mechanism with a weight-bearing lift. Flat steps of the apparatus move in parallel with the ground; the apparatus supports the entire leg alignment (including soles of the feet) and assists walking behavior at the ankle, knee, and hip joints simultaneously. To estimate the walking phase of each leg of the equipped person, pressure sensors were attached under the thenar eminence and the heel of the sole and the pressure variation at each sensing point was measured. To determine the direction in which the equipped person is walking, a pressure sensor was attached to the flexible crural link. Motor palsy patients and those with muscle weakness can walk with the assistance of the apparatus. Patients who have ambulation difficulty can also use the apparatus with a weight-bearing lift that we developed. Using the apparatus with the weight-bearing lift prevents stumbling and enables input of walking movement to the brain motor area. The validity of the weight-bearing lift can be confirmed from the results of the measured %maximum voluntary contraction (MVC).
1 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a 90-year-old female with motor weakness of the lower extremities was admitted in the chronic care hospital and had rehabilitation therapy for independent ambulation and toilet activities.
Abstract: Although coronavirus disease 2019 can cause immobility syndrome in the patients positive for coronavirus disease 2019 and the survivors of coronavirus disease 2019, it is not described in elderly patients who are not positive for coronavirus disease 2019. A 90-year-old female with motor weakness of the lower extremities was admitted in the chronic care hospital. She had rehabilitation therapy for independent ambulation and toilet activities. Though she complained of irregular pulse related to atrial fibrillation during rehabilitation therapy, the symptom disappeared within a few minutes. Her ambulation and toilet activities became better with rehabilitation therapy. However, three weeks after initiating rehabilitation therapy, a cluster of coronavirus disease 2019 infections occurred. The patient was not infected, but rehabilitation therapy was discontinued for 25 days. The patient exhibited ambulation difficulty with shortness of breath and persistent irregular pulse, especially when rehabilitation therapy was reinitiated. These symptoms did not appear while the patient was outside of rehabilitation therapy. At the time of writing, she started to recover her declined ambulation with rehabilitation therapy, but was still dependent in toileting. Immobility syndrome in elderly patients negative for coronavirus disease 2019 can be aggravated following the occurrence of a low-level cluster of coronavirus disease 2019 infections. Medical workers should, therefore, always consider this hidden risk and should plan an adequate program in the early period of rehabilitation therapy for the elderly patients.
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 1994 | 1 |