No abstract

This study provides support for our intervention programme aimed at reducing the risk of falling in elderly participants diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis. The data obtained from the pilot study allow the calculation of the actual sample size needed for a larger randomized trial.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability of a forceplate postural balance protocol in a group of elderly fallers and non-fallers. The measurements were tested in single and dual-task conditions, with and without vision.

No abstract

This study demonstrated acceptable psychometric performances for the Lysholm-G and the Tegner-G scales as outcome measures for patients with TKA. A short version of the Lysholm score without the "locking" and "instability" items might be more appropriate for TKA patients.

Study Design. Systematic review. Objective. To summarize the evidence of neurophysiological effects of spinal manipulative therapy (SMT) with a high velocity low amplitude thrust (HVLA-SMT) in asymptomatic and symptomatic humans. Summary of Background Data. HVLA-SMT is effective in reducing back pain, but its mode of action is not fully understood. Methods. A systematic literature search (until July 2018) was conducted by a professional librarian in seven databases (Medline (OvidSP), Premedline (PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane, CINAHL, PEDro, and Scopus). Two authors selected the studies according to the a priori described criteria and scored study quality. Only controlled studies of at least moderate quality were included. Effects of HVLA-SMT on a particular outcome measure were defined as more than one study showing a significantly greater effect of HVLA-SMT compared with the control intervention. Results. From the 18 studies included (932 participants in total), there was evidence only for an association between HVLA-SMT and changes in the autonomic nervous system, reflected in changes in heart rate variability and skin conductance. Most studies focused on healthy volunteers and none related neurophysiologic changes to pain reduction. Conclusion. This systematic review points to HVLA-SMT affecting the autonomic nervous system. The effects seem to depend on the spinal level of HVLA-SMT application and might differ between healthy volunteers and pain patients. There is a need for high-quality studies that include patients, well characterized for pain duration and outcome measure baseline values, and address the relation between changes in neurophysiology and pain. Level of Evidence: 2

The psychometric properties of the Tegner-G are comparable to those of the English original version. The Tegner-G is thus valid and reliable for the German-speaking part of Switzerland. The application in other German-speaking countries probably requires adaptations for some of the sports included. The relation between activity and function changes depending on time since operation. This confirms that a comprehensive assessment of the outcome after an anterior cruciate ligament injury requires the separate assessment of both parameters.

BackgroundFall prevention interventions with home-based exercise programmes are effective to reduce the number and the rate of falls, by reducing risk factors. They improve balance, strength, function, physical activity, but it is known that older adults’ exercise adherence declines over time. However, it is unclear which delivery-modalities of the home-based exercise programmes show the best adherence and the largest effect.We created a new home-based exercise programme, the Test-and-Exercise (T&E) programme, based on the concepts of self-efficacy and empowerment. Patients learn to build their own exercise programme with a mobile application, a brochure and cards, as well as with eight coaching sessions by physiotherapists.The main objective of this study is to compare the T&E programme with the Otago Exercise Programme and the recommendation-booklet and exercise-cards of Helsana regarding incidence of falls. Other outcomes are severity of falls, functional capacities, quality of life and exercise-adherence.MethodsThe design of this study is a Swiss multicentre assessor blind randomized controlled trial. A block-randomization, stratified in groups for age and risk of fall categories, will be used to allocate the participants to three groups. The targeted study sample consists of 405 older adults, ≥ 65 years of age, living in the community and evaluated as at “risk of falling”. Experimental group will receive the T&E programme (N = 162). Second group will receive the Otago programme (N = 162) and the third group will receive the Helsana programme (N = 81). All interventions last six months. Blinded assessors will assess participants three times: at baseline before the start of the intervention, after six months of intervention and a final assessment after twelve months (six months of follow up).DiscussionAlthough home-based exercises programmes show positive effects in fall prevention in elderly persons, existing programmes do often not include patients in the decision-making process about exercise selection. In our programme the physiotherapist and the older adult work together to select the exercises; this collaboration helps to increase health literacy, pleasure of exercising, and empowers patients to be more autonomy.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02926105, First Posted: October 6, 2016, Last Update: November 11, 2016: Enrolment of the first participant.