Background. The identification of specific risk factors for falls in community-dwelling elderly persons is required to detect early changes and permit a preventative approach to management. This study determines the ability of various laboratory measures and clinical tests of postural stability to prospectively predict fallers in community-dwelling elderly women.

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Motor coordination difficulties and poor fitness exist in the extremely low birthweight (ELBW) population. This study investigated the relative impact of motor coordination on the fitness of ELBW children aged 11 to 13 years. One hundred and nine children were recruited to the study: 54 ELBW participants (mean age at assessment 12y 6mo; 31 male, 23 female; mean birthweight 769g, SD 148g; mean gestational age 26.6 weeks, SD 2.1 weeks) and 55 comparison children (mean age at assessment 12y 5mo; 28 males, 27 females; at least 37 weeks’ gestation). All children completed the Movement Assessment Battery for Children (MABC), functional tests of postural stability and strength, growth measures, and tests of respiratory function. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was calculated from a 20m shuttle run test as a measure of fitness. The ELBW group had greater problems with postural stability (p=0.001) and motor coordination (p=0.001), with 70% rated as having a definite motor problem on the MABC brackets (those who scored less than the 5th centile on the MABC). The ELBW was also less fit than the comparison group (p=0.001), with 45% below the 10th centile for VO2max. There were differences between the groups for growth, strength, and particularly respiratory function. However, respiratory function did not significantly correlate with VO2max in the ELBW group. Motor coordination was the most powerful predictor of VO2max in both the ELBW (p=0.001) and the comparison groups (p=0.001).

The clinical lateral reach test was found to be an accurate measure of lateral reach ability. As it was significantly correlated with COP excursion it was deemed a valid indicator of lateral stability limits. In addition, the lateral reach test had high test-retest repeatability and was symmetrical between the sides. These promising results support both it's use where a clinical indicator of medio-lateral postural stability is desired and further investigation of the lateral reach test in clinical populations.

Both feet of two hundred and seventy two children aged between five years six months and ten years and eleven months were studied using a footprint technique called the arch index (Al), and the vertical height of the navicular (NH) as non invasive techniques of objective measures of the medial longitudinal arch (MLA). In addition to age the study investigated the influence of gender, limb dominance, and body weight. The study found the existence of a relationship between the two measures of the MLA. There was no significant difference in NH measures between males and females and body weight did not affect the NH. The NH changed with age, suggesting it provides a useful, easily obtained clinical measure. The Al measures were slightly more reliable than the NH but showed less change with age.