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Objective: To identify whether patients in the subacute stage of stroke, with foot drop, would have better gait outcomes when using a double-adjustable AFO (DA AFO) or a posterior leaf spring AFO (PLS AFO) at baseline without practice and to determine whether one week of practice would significantly change gait outcomes with either of the AFOs. Design: Within-subject 2 × 2 repeated measures design. Setting: Postacute and outpatient rehabilitation center. Participants: Twenty individuals with mean age of 57 years (SD: 12.0 years) with subacute stroke. Interventions: Participants were measured using DA AFO and PLS AFO at baseline. Follow-up measurements were taken after one week of practice with each type of AFO in randomly assigned order. Outcome Measures: Gait endurance (6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT)), gait symmetry, and gait velocity at self-selected and fast-paced velocity measured using GAITRite gait analysis system and patient report of AFO preference. Results: At baseline, no significant differences were found between the 2 AFOs (P > 0.05). There was no significant interaction (P > 0.05) of AFO and practice for gait endurance, symmetry, and velocity. Main effect of practice was significant for gait endurance (P < 0.001), self-selected velocity (P = 0.001), and fast-paced velocity (P < 0.001). In all, 16 participants preferred using DA AFO for walking. Conclusions: No difference between DA AFO and PLS AFO was found on measures of gait endurance, symmetry, and velocity at baseline or after practice. With practice over time, participants improved in gait endurance and velocity regardless of AFO type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To prepare patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) for discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, physical therapists may incorporate dual-task gait activities. Reliability of common dual-task measures for people with TBI in inpatient rehabilitation is undetermined. Our purpose was to assess inter-rater and intra-rater reliability and clinical feasibility of dual-task measures [Walking While Talking Test (WWTT), Modified Walking and Remembering Task (mWART), Timed Up and Go-cognitive (TUG-COG)] in inpatient rehabilitation for patients with TBI. Methods: A total of 22 individuals with TBI completing the dual-task measures (WWTT, Walking and Remembering Task (WART), and TUG-COG) in inpatient rehabilitation were rated concurrently by two physical therapists in a single testing session. Sessions were video recorded and rated by the same raters viewing the video 7–10 days later. Raters completed a survey assessing feasibility of conducting the dual-task measures in patients with TBI in inpatient rehabilitation. Data were analyzed by calculating ICC(2,1) for inter-rater reliability and ICC(3,1) for intra-rater reliability. Results: All dual-task measures (WWTT, mWART, TUG-COG) had excellent inter-rater and intra-rater reliability. Raters considered dual-task measures feasible for patients with TBI during inpatient rehabilitation. Conclusions: The WWTT, mWART, and TUG-COG have excellent reliability and appear clinically feasible for incorporation into clinical practice in inpatient rehabilitation following TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To identify if dual task gait differed between persons with PD (high versus low physical activity levels) and healthy peers. Methods: Persons with PD (n = 19) and matched healthy controls (HC) (n = 19) completed Timed Up and Go single (TUGalone) and dual task conditions (TUGmotor/TUGcognitive), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and step activity monitoring. Participants with PD were classified low active (LAPD; n = 11) or high active (HAPD; n = 8) using HC mean steps/day cut-point (M = 4,658). Results: PD groups were equivalent for mental status, disease severity, and PD duration. LAPD steps/day (M = 2,482.00 ± 1,466.33) differed from HAPD (M = 5,675.13 ± 1,198.93) and HC (M = 4,657.74 ± 1,604.99) (p = 0.001). LAPD completed the TUG slower than HAPD and HC (MANOVA, p < 0.02; post-hoc analysis, p < 0.04). BDI-II scores were greater in LAPD than HC (p = 0.013). Conclusions: Physical activity impacted mobility and depression. HAPD were similar to HC in walking activities and affect but LAPD walked slower with higher levels of depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Participating in health-related physical activity (PA) may increase risk for musculoskeletal injury (MSI). Purpose: This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of structural/biomechanical risk factors in community-dwelling women and associated risk for incidence of MSI in women who are physically active. Methods: The Women’s Injury study is a surveillance of PA behaviors and MSI in women age 20-83 yr. An orthopedic examination was performed before entry into the study to assess presence of structural/biomechanical risk factors. A total of 886 women completed data collection by reporting weekly PA behavior and MSI for up to 3 yr (2007-2009), with the average participant enrolled for 98 wk. To estimate MSI risk associated with each risk factor separately, time to first MSI was modeled using proportional hazard regression with time-dependent PA covariates, controlling for age, body mass index, and previous injury. Results: Over the course of the study, 236 of the women (26.6%) reported at least one MSI that was PA related. We found a significant association between the number of high flexibility risk factors and PA-related injury at all levels of PA exposure (HR =1.15 and confidence interval (CI) = 1.04-1.27 for moderate-to-vigorous PA; HR =1.16 and CI = 1.05-1.28 for moderate PA; HR = 1.15 and CI = 1.04-1.27 for vigorous PA). Conclusions: When participating at any level of PA for health benefits, women with hypermobility in multiple muscle groups or joints should be watchful for musculoskeletal symptoms and should be counseled not to ignore symptoms when they first occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. We examined the relations of meeting or not meeting the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommendations for muscular strengthening activities with percentage of body fat, body mass index (BMI; defined as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters, squared), muscular strength, and obesity classification in women. Methods. We analyzed data on 918 women aged 20 to 83 years in the Women's Injury Study from 2007 to 2009. A baseline orthopedic examination included measurement of height, body weight, skinfolds, and muscle strength. Results. Women who met muscle strengthening activity recommendations had significantly lower BMI and percentage of body fat and higher muscle strength. Women not meeting those recommendations were more likely to be obese (BMI≥30) compared with women who met the recommendations after we adjusted for age, race, and aerobic physical activity (odds ratio=2.28; 95% confidence interval=1.61, 3.23). Conclusions. There was a small but significant positive association between meeting muscle strengthening activity recommendations and muscular strength, a moderate inverse association with body fat percentage, and a strong inverse association with obesity classification, providing preliminary support for the muscle strengthening activity recommendation for women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a randomized controlled trial which explores the effects of weight bearing aerobic exercise and resistance strengthening exercise on postmenopausal women with low bone mass. It cites three risk factors for fall-related fracture in women such as decreased strength, poor balance and low bone mineral density. Furthermore, it suggests the significance of hip extensor strength for postural stability and fall prevention.

The article reports on research which was conducted to investigate the relationship between the amount of physical activity (PA) and resistance exercise (RE) conducted on a weekly basis with the risk of musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) in women. Researchers conducted a prospective, observational study using weekly Internet tracking of moderate-to-vigorous PA and RE behaviors and MSIs in 909 community-dwelling women. They found that while there was a modest increase in MSIs associated with increased PA, the health benefits of PA and RE outweighed the disadvantages.

The article presents a study which aims to describe the prevalence and stability of long-term tracking of physical activity (PA) behaviors in women with a variety of methods. It mentions the WIN study which monitors real time physical activity behaviors in community-living women which include measures of vigorous walking and strengthening activities. It concludes that PA behaviors are stable across long periods and implies that 50% of community-living women are involve in adequate PA for health benefits.