Background: Measurements in absolute terms of the whole respiratory movement pattern (range, type, symmetry, rhythm and frequency of breathing movements) of healthy individuals are valuable for reference, when assessing patients with conditions affecting respiration. Objective: To establish reference data for breathing movements and patterns for healthy men and women. Methods: Fifty men (mean age 47.8 years) and 50 women (mean age 43.4 years) aged between 20 and 69 years participated in the study. Anterior-posterior breathing movements of the upper and lower thorax and abdomen were measured bilaterally during quiet breathing and deep breathing using the respiratory movement measuring instrument. Descriptive statistics, paired-sample statistics and Kendall’s correlation test were used for analysis. Results: Breathing movements were symmetrical and did not change significantly with increasing age. The average breathing type for men and women was abdominal during quiet breathing. During deep breathing the abdominal movements were significantly less amongst the women than the men (p < 0.05). The average respiratory rate was 14 during quiet and 7.4 during deep breathing for both sexes. The rhythm (inspiration/expiration ratio) was 1:1.21 for men and 1:1.14 for women during quiet breathing and 1:1.23 for men and 1:1.40 for women during deep breathing. Conclusions: As men and women have similar breathing movements during quiet breathing their reference values can be combined. On the other hand, separate reference values are needed for men and women for deep breathing.

Previously [The abstract has been shortened somewhat, and the headings removed, in order to conform to journal style], we have observed vestibular asymmetry in about one-third of healthy senior citizens and in about two-thirds of subjects with previous hip fractures and no other significant ailments. Wrist fractures are considered a harbinger of hip fractures. If vestibular asymmetry is correlated with falls and fractures among the elderly then it should also be reflected among subjects with wrist fractures. Sixty-six consecutive patients (mean age 67.8 years) who had sustained a fall-related wrist fracture during a 10-month period were included in the study. The frequency of head shake nystagmus among the patients was compared to that found among 49 healthy senior citizens (mean age 74.9 years). Nystagmus after head shaking, indicating asymmetric vestibular function, was found in 50 participants (76%) (p <0.001). Thirty-eight of these were graded with distinct or prominent nystagmus responses. Sixty percent of the subjects with horizontal nystagmus had a wrist fracture coinciding with the slow phase of nystagmus. Twenty-three subjects reported 30 previous fall-related fractures during the previous 10 years. Subjects with nystagmus after head shaking sustained 26 of these fractures. The frequency of signs of vestibular asymmetry was significantly higher (p < 0.001) among the subjects than among healthy senior citizens. These findings suggest that an asymmetric vestibular function could be an epidemiologically important contributory factor to falls and wrist fractures among the elderly population.

The aim was to determine the contributions of foot mechanoreceptive sensation, vision and their interaction on postural stability during quiet stance, balance perturbations and adaptive adjustments. Postural stability was measured as anteroposterior torque variance in Young (n = 25, average age = 25.1 years) and Elderly subjects (n = 16, average age = 71.5 years) during repeated calf vibrations while standing with eyes open and closed. Sensation, recorded using vibration perception and tactile sensitivity, was poorer in elderly than young subjects. Sensation was of low importance for stability during quiet stance and the first 50 s of repeated vibrations, but was associated with stability during the last three 50 s periods of balance perturbations, suggesting that the mechanoreceptive sensation affected how well postural control could adapt to repeated balance perturbations. The findings suggest that clinicians should investigate whether patients with balance problems and poor adaptation have mechanoreceptive sensation deficits.

Combined vestibular, proprioceptive and fall-prevention training improve postural control, functional ability, confidence in ADL and might even decrease the risk of falling among elderly people.