Descriptive data were collected regarding static standing balance of 71 noninstitutionalized elderly women as they performed two timed balance tests. All subjects performed the sharpened Romberg test and the one-legged stance test on each foot in four test conditions: 1) eyes open, 2) eyes closed, 3) shoes on, and 4) shoes off. Subjects were grouped and analyzed according to the following age ranges: 1) 60 to 64 years, 2) 65 to 69 years, 3) 70 to 74 years, 4) 75 to 79 years, and 5) 80 to 86 years. The best time of three trials was used for data analysis. The maximum balance time for the sharpened Romberg test was 60 seconds. For the one-legged stance test, a maximum balance time was 30 seconds. No significant difference was found between right and left or dominant and nondominant limbs while performing the one-legged stance test. No significant difference was found in mean balance time between subjects who had fallen versus those who had not fallen, nor between shoes-on and shoes-off test performance. Subjects' performance on the eyes-open test was consistently superior to their eyes-closed test performance (p less than .0001). The one-legged stance test mean balance time decreased significantly as age increased. More subjects reached the maximum balance time on the sharpened Romberg test than on the one-legged stance test. The results of this study indicate that additional research is needed in the area of balance maintenance among the elderly population.

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A purpose of this study was to determine the difference in the lumbar curves of subjects while they stood compared with while they sat in two chairs with different seat angles--the Balans Multi-Chair (BMC) and a standard conventional chair (SCC). An additional purpose was to determine the relationship between lumbar curvature and 1) anthropometric factors and hamstring and hip flexor muscle length during standing and during sitting in the two chairs and 2) amount of time spent sitting. Sixty-one men between 20 and 30 years of age served as subjects. Lumbar curve measurements were taken with a flexible ruler with the subjects first standing and then sitting in the two chairs. Hamstring and hip flexor muscle lengths were indicated by range-of-motion measurements taken with a gravity goniometer. Age, number of hours spent sitting per day, upper body length, and right leg length also were recorded. Subjects had significantly more lumbar extension when they sat in the BMC than when they sat in the SCC. Hip flexor length was the only factor that appeared to relate significantly to the difference between the standing lumbar curve and the lumbar curves in the BMC and the SCC.

Group sex events are epidemiologically important part of some gay and bisexual men's sexual culture in Canada. Associated with condomless anal intercourse and polysubstance use, such events have been cited as disproportionally contributing to HIV infection rates. We analysed questionnaire data from the Momentum Health Study in Vancouver, Canada to understand substance use, sexual behaviour, psychosocial variables (Sexual Sensation Seeking, Sexual Escape Motivation, and Treatment Optimism), and HIV prevention strategies (sero-sorting, strategic positioning, avoiding anal sex, disclosure, treatment as prevention) of men attending such events, which were defined as group (n≥4 partners) sex parties, blackout events, and darkrooms. Analysis by multivariable logistic regression compared men attending group sex events within the past 6 months (n=180) with non-attendees (n=539). Results showed that attendees reported 1) significantly higher use of sex drugs and alcohol consumption, 2) higher scores on the Sexual Sensation Scale, more anal sex partners, greater odds of any condomless anal sex with sero-discordant partners, and greater odds of reporting fisting and sex toy use, and 3) different prevention practices that varied by HIV-serostatus. Findings are interpreted in light of the importance of pleasure, sociality, and HIV/STI prevention strategies associated with group sex events. Findings contribute to the development of appropriate education and intervention for attendees.

Despite continued research among men with more sexual partners, little information exists on their seroadaptive behavior. Therefore, we examined seroadaptive anal sex strategies among 719 Vancouver gay and bisexual men (GBM) recruited using respondent driven sampling (RDS). Our objectives were to (1) describe the distribution in frequency of male sexual partnering among Vancouver GBM, and (2) identify important covariates associated with the number of male sexual partners. To this aims, we provide descriptive, univariate, and multivariate adjusted statistics, stratified by HIV status, for the association between having ≥7 male anal sex partners in the past six months (Population Q3, versus <7). Sensitivity Analysis were also performed to assess the robustness of this cut-off point. Results suggest that GBM with more sexual partners are more likely to employ seroadaptive strategies than men with fewer partners. These strategies may be used in hopes of offsetting risk, assessing needs for subsequent HIV testing, and balancing personal health with sexual intimacy. Further research is needed to determine the efficacy of these strategies, assess how GBM perceive their efficacy, and understand the social and health impacts of their widespread uptake.