| 1. |
- Sjödahl Hammarlund, Catharina, et al.
(author)
-
Fall risk and its associated factors among older adults without home help services in a Swedish municipality
- 2016
-
In: Journal of Community Health Nursing. - : Routledge. - 0737-0016 .- 1532-7655. ; 33:4, s. 181-189
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- During preventive home visits, the purpose of this study was, to identify the prevalence of fall risk and any associated factors. Participants (n=1471) were cognitively sound community-dwelling older adults (≥ 70 years) without home-help service, living in a Swedish municipality. The Downton Fall Risk Index and nine single items were used. Tiredness/fatigue, age ≥ 80, inability to walk one hour, inability to climb stairs and worrying were significantly associated with fall risk. Preventive home visits incorporating fall risk screening proved valuable, providing information for interventions aimed at preventing falls, maintaining independence and facilitating health among community dwelling participants.
|
|
| 2. |
- Ambolt, Amelie, et al.
(author)
-
Therapeutically efficient components of Basic Body Awareness Therapy as perceived by experienced therapists : a qualitative study
- 2017
-
In: Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies. - : Elsevier. - 1360-8592 .- 1532-9283. ; 21:3, s. 503-508
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundBasic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) is a physiotherapeutic method used in rehabilitation to increase physical and emotional balance. The aim was to identify and describe perceived therapeutically efficient components of BBAT.MethodsTwenty-four experienced BBAT therapists participated in focus group interviews. The data were analysed with content analysis.ResultsOne central theme, the therapeutic space consisted of two categories; the therapeutic encounter and the therapeutic tools, which emerged as the core of the perceived therapeutically efficient components. The therapeutic encounter entailed the therapeutic approach, affect attunement, continuous interaction during treatment, affect mirroring and communicating by use of a person-centred approach. The therapeutic tools included adjustment and adaptation, the use of manual, verbal and non-verbal guiding, and creating an atmosphere of safety and sanctuary.ConclusionThe significance of interaction by use of a person-centred approach combined with the ability to continuously adjust the treatment constituted useful guidelines when designing rehabilitation using BBAT treatment.
|
|
| 3. |
- Ambolt, Amelie, et al.
(author)
-
Therapeutically efficient components of Basic Body Awareness Therapy as perceived by experienced therapists : a qualitative study
- 2017
-
In: Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies. - : Elsevier BV. - 1360-8592. ; 21:3, s. 503-508
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) is a physiotherapeutic method used in rehabilitation to increase physical and emotional balance. The aim was to identify and describe perceived therapeutically efficient components of BBAT. Methods Twenty-four experienced BBAT therapists participated in focus group interviews. The data were analysed with content analysis. Results One central theme, the therapeutic space consisted of two categories; the therapeutic encounter and the therapeutic tools, which emerged as the core of the perceived therapeutically efficient components. The therapeutic encounter entailed the therapeutic approach, affect attunement, continuous interaction during treatment, affect mirroring and communicating by use of a person-centred approach. The therapeutic tools included adjustment and adaptation, the use of manual, verbal and non-verbal guiding, and creating an atmosphere of safety and sanctuary. Conclusion The significance of interaction by use of a person-centred approach combined with the ability to continuously adjust the treatment constituted useful guidelines when designing rehabilitation using BBAT treatment.
|
|
| 4. |
- Bertilsson, Ingrid, et al.
(author)
-
Basic Body Awareness Therapy for young adults with autism : - a pragmatic randomized controlled trial
- 2023
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Young adults with autism often have problems with body awareness, also acknowledged by physiotherapists. This may interfere with various physiological and psychological responses, expressed in reduced movement quality. Basic Body Awareness Therapy (BBAT) may be suitable to address these difficulties, to enhance body awareness and movement quality to manage everyday life. Body Awareness Scale and Movement Quality (BAS MQ) is an outcome measure with acceptable measurement properties in people with autism, that could be used to evaluate BBAT.Objectives: To evaluate if BBAT may be effective for improving movement quality in people with autism.Methods: People with autism, 15-30 years were randomized to either an individual BBAT intervention of 12 weekly sessions and treatment-as-usual, or to a control group receiving treatment-as-usual only. Winsteps transformed data of BAS MQ at baseline and post-intervention were used to analyze changes in movement quality for each group.Results: The preliminary results indicate significant improvements in BAS MQ for 7 out of 28 participants in the intervention group, while none had deteriorated. In the control group, there was no significant changes. Three participants discontinued participation due to high anxiety from travelling to and from the sessions. Conclusions: The preliminary results indicate that BBAT can enhance movement quality, in line with previous findings from other groups, such as in psychiatric and pain interventions. This is the first study of BBAT in people with autism, and therefore there is no study to compare with. The special needs in autism require being acknowledged in all service delivery. The preliminary result suggests that BBAT may be a method to improve movement quality in people with autism. Further clinical trials of BBAT should be carried out to investigate possible impacts on everyday functioning.
|
|
| 5. |
- Bertilsson, Ingrid, et al.
(author)
-
Measurement properties of the Body Awareness Scale Movement Quality (BAS MQ) in autistic persons
- 2024
-
Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Background: Autistic persons exhibit poorer body awareness than neurotypical persons. Movement quality may be regarded as an expression of body awareness. Therefore, sound assessments of movement quality are essential to make reliable decisions about body awareness interventions.Purpose: To assess measurement properties of the Body Awareness Scale Movement Quality (BAS MQ) in persons on the autism spectrum and in a neurotypical reference group.Methods: Autistic persons (n=108) and neurotypical references (n=32) were included. All were assessed with BAS MQ, consisting of 23 items distributed within three subscales: stability in function, coordination/breathing and relating/awareness. Data were analyzed according to the Rasch model. Results: BAS MQ had acceptable unidimensionality, supported by the fit statistics. The hierarchical ordering showed that coordination/breathing ability was the most difficult, followed by stability in function and relating/awareness being the easiest. Response category worked as intended for 19 out of 23 items. Few difficult items for the most abled persons decreased targeting, leading to an inverted ceiling effect. Reliability measures were good. BAS MQ discriminated between the autism and the reference group, as the former exhibited poorer movement quality.Conclusions: BAS MQ was found to have acceptable measurement properties. BAS MQ may, along with experienced movement quality, contribute to clinically relevant information of movement quality and body awareness in persons on the autism spectrum. Implications: For autistic persons, the BAS MQ may:• assess movement quality• identify individuals that might benefit from body awareness interventions• assess and separate different levels of movement quality• discriminate between autistic and neurotypical individuals
|
|
| 6. |
- Bertilsson, Ingrid, et al.
(author)
-
Physiotherapists’ experiences of the meaning of movement quality in autism: a descriptive phenomenological study
- 2022
-
In: Physiotherapy Theory and Practice. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0959-3985 .- 1532-5040. ; 38:2, s. 299-308
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Movement quality, represented in unrestricted movements, flow and pleasure, is often lacking in people with autism. One aspect is the non-verbal expression of the present emotional and psychological state of an individual. Purpose: To describe the meaning of movement quality in autism, as experienced by specialized physiotherapists. Method: Ten physiotherapists were interviewed. The data were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using Giorgi᾽s descriptive phenomenological method. Findings: The general structure of movement quality in people with autism included eight key constituents: 1) reduced postural control; 2) deviant muscle tone and tension; 3) deviant sensory processing; 4) a lack of conscious awareness; 5) difficulties with body boundaries; 6) coordinating movements (including breathing); 7) lack of anticipatory preparations of movements; and 8) need of cognitive thoughts to control movements. Conclusions: This study provide an understanding of how movement quality in people with autism is expressed. Their lived bodies constantly need to protect themselves from sensory impressions from within or the surroundings, causing emotional distress and obscuring the meaning of their movements. Their bodily expression becomes restrained, fragmented, and hesitant. Understanding movement patterns and emotional reactions following their struggle with movements may facilitate constructive interaction and communication, which give important implications when designing physiotherapy interventions.
|
|
| 7. |
- Bertilsson, Ingrid, et al.
(author)
-
Understanding one's body and movements from the perspective of young adults with autism : A mixed-methods study
- 2018
-
In: Research in Developmental Disabilities. - : Elsevier BV. - 0891-4222. ; 78, s. 44-54
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: There are but a few studies of how persons with autism perceive their bodies and movements. Difficulties in perceiving the surrounding world along with disturbed motor coordination and executive functions may affect physical and psychological development. Aims: To explore the experiences of body and movements in young adults with autism and how two physiotherapeutic instruments may capture these experiences. Procedures: Eleven young adults (16–22 years) with autism were interviewed and assessed using Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency (BOT2) and Body Awareness Scale Movement Quality and Experience (BAS MQ-E). Following a mixed- methods design, the interviews were deductively analyzed and conceptually integrated to the results of the two assessments. Results: Experiencing conflicting feelings about their bodies/movements, led to low understanding of themselves. The assessments captured these experiences relatively well, presenting both movement quality and quantity. Positive experiences and better movement quality related to having access to more functional daily strategies. Conclusion: Combining motor proficiency and body awareness assessments was optimal to understand the participants’ experiences. Implications: To capture body and movement functions in persons with autism in this standardized manner will lead to improved and reliable diagnoses, tailored interventions, increased body awareness and activity, and enhanced quality of life.
|
|
| 8. |
|
|
| 9. |
- Brogårdh, Christina, et al.
(author)
-
Experiences of falls and strategies to manage the consequences of falls in persons with late effects of polio : A qualitative study
- 2017
-
In: Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. - : Medical Journals Sweden AB. - 1650-1977 .- 1651-2081. ; 49:8, s. 652-658
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To explore how persons with late effects of polio experience falls and what strategies they use to manage the consequences of falls. Design: A qualitative study with face-To-face interviews. Data were analysed by systematic text condensation. Participants: Fourteen ambulatory persons (7 women; mean age 70 years) with late effects of polio. Results: Analysis resulted in one main theme, "Everyday life is a challenge to avoid the consequences of falls", and 3 categories with 7 subcategories. Participants perceived that falls were unpredictable and could occur anywhere. Even slightly uneven surfaces could cause a fall, and increased impairments following late effects of polio led to reduced movement control and an inability to adjust balance quickly. Physical injuries were described after the falls, as well as emotional and psychological reactions, such as embarrassment, frustration and fear of falling. Assistive devices, careful planning and strategic thinking were strategies to prevent falls, together with adaptation and social comparisons to mitigate the emotional reactions. Conclusion: Experiences of falls greatly affect persons with late effects of polio in daily life. To reduce falls and fall-related consequences both problemfocused and emotion-focused strategies are used. In order to increase daily functioning, these findings should be included in a multifaceted falls management programme.
|
|
| 10. |
- Brogårdh, Christina, et al.
(author)
-
Fall-Related activity avoidance among persons with late effects of polio and its influence on daily life : A mixed-methods study
- 2021
-
In: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI AG. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 18:13, s. 1-11
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Falls are common among persons with late effects of polio (LEoP), which may lead to fear of falling and activity avoidance in everyday life. Here, we assessed the occurrence of fall-related activity avoidance among persons with LEoP and explored how these experiences influenced daily life. Fourteen ambulatory persons (seven women; mean age 70 years) with LEoP participated. They responded to the modified Survey of Activities and Fear of Falling in the Elderly (mSAFFE) and participated in individual interviews, which were analysed by systematic text condensation. Each quotation was deductively analysed from its representation with regard to mSAFFE. We found that many persons often avoided activities related to standing and walking, for example, taking a bath, performing household chores, walking outdoors, attending social events if there were stairs in the building and travelling by public transport, due to fear of falling, increased pain and fatigability. To facilitate the performance of daily activities participants expressed that strategic thinking and aids were important to use. In conclusion, fall-related activity avoidance is common in persons with LEoP, which negatively influence daily life and social participation. To increase daily functioning in this population, fall-related activity avoidance should be included in a multifaceted fall management program.
|
|
