| 1. |
- Bergland, Astrid, et al.
(författare)
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Health, balance, and walking as correlates of climbing steps
- 2008
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Ingår i: Journal of Aging and Physical Activity. - 1543-267X. ; 16:1, s. 42-52
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study was to investigate walking and health among woman age 75 yr or older, in the associations between the highest step up performed without support by an individual and balance, walking, and health among women age 75+. Records of the highest step, balance, walking, and health were made for 307 women age 75-93 yr living in the community. Eighty percent managed to climb steps higher than 20 cm. There was a statistically significant negative relationship between age and stair-climbing capacity. The highest steps registered were significantly and independently associated with a short time on the timed up-and-go test, long functional reach, low body weight, lack of perceived difficulty walking outdoors, low number of "missteps" when walking in a figure of 8, longer time in one-leg stance, ability to carry out tandem stance, no walking aids outdoors, and not being afraid of falling. These variables together explained 67% of the variance in the step-height score.
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| 2. |
- Bergland, Astrid, et al.
(författare)
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Self-reported walking, balance testing and risk of fall among the elderly
- 2006
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Ingår i: Tidsskrift for den Norske Laegeforening. - 0807-7096. ; 126:2, s. 176-178
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Falls represent an important health problem among the elderly. Balance testing as well as registration of self-reported balance problems may be appropriate in order to predict the risk of future falls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Self-reported walking was assessed in 307 randomly selected women 75 years or older living at home. The women underwent testing of gait and balance and were followed up for one year with respect to falls and fall-related injuries. RESULTS: 155 of the women fell during the observation period; 308 falls were reported. 13% of the falls resulted in a fracture. Factor analysis identified five anamnestic questions measuring the same latent construct. The sum score of this self-reported walking index correlated highly with simple balance tests. A poor result on the walking index indicated a high risk of falling (odds ratio (OR) 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.41-2.30) and of fall-related fractures (OR 2.65, 95 % CI 1.27-5.05) the subsequent year. The areas under the ROC curves (receiver-operating characteristics) were, however, only .57 for falls and .61 for fractures. INTERPRETATION: Simple questions give useful information on the risk of falls and fall-related fractures among elderly women.
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| 3. |
- Hjelmblink, Finn, 1939-
(författare)
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Understanding Life After Stroke
- 2008
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Stroke is an acute, neurological dysfunction of vascular origin with sudden occurrence and it influences physical, cognitive and psychological functions. Initial treatment aims at eliminating or reducing the brain damage. Soon, however, the influence of the stroke on the entire life of stroke survivors has to be considered.This thesis explores the meaning of life after stroke to 19 elderly stroke survivors during the first year post stroke. Survivors were interviewed twice and the interviews were analysed through qualitative methods.Study I was about four survivors who delayed hospital arrival far beyond time limits for trombolytic treatment. The survivors had a strong need for control of body, autonomy and integrity and they demanded to be encountered in consultations as a person by a person. To make them search for emergency evaluation in time might demand an emergency care treating them according to these needs.In Study II the voice of an aphasic survivor was heard. Because of the damaged language his rehabilitation unilaterally focussed on language training and his need for comprehensive support and planning for the future was not observed. Implementation of a qualitative research method for text analysis adapted to practical use in dialogues with aphasic persons might ensure these survivors an adequate rehabilitation.Study III showed how time models in narratives helped stroke survivors to overcome uncertainty and recreate narrative coherence in their lives. Professionals can support survivors through revealing and reinforcing the meaning of these models.Study IV found that the meaning of rehabilitation to stroke survivors was social reintegration. Many probably did not socially reintegrate because their own strategies and subjectively experienced disabilities were unacknowledged in their rehabilitation. Through integrating illness-as-lived perspectives with biomedical perspectives, subjective dysfunctions and rehabilitation strategies of survivors could be acknowledged in stroke rehabilitation.
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