Page 37 - Petelin, Ana, Nejc Šarabon, eds. 2018. Zdravje starostnikov ▪︎ Health of the Elderly. Zbornik povzetkov z recenzijo ▪︎ Book of Abstracts. Koper: Založba Univerze na Primorskem/University of Primorska Press
P. 37
ing, mobility and fall risk: plenarna predavanja | plenary lectures
measurements in the lab and in daily life
Mirjam Pijnappels
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, van
der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, Netherlands
Introduction: Age-related physical and cognitive decline can cause mobility
problems and falls in older people. Early risk identification can facilitate timely
interventions. The aim of my presentation is to give an overview of studies to
quantify mobility and fall risk in older people, based on measures obtained in
the lab, as well as measures from daily life activities.
Methods: In experimental studies, we measured obstacle avoidance, respons-
es to balance perturbations and self-perceived fall risk, based on kinematic, ki-
netic and muscle activity patterns. From ambulant studies, we obtained 1-week
wearable sensor data from cohorts of 300 participants to calculate their dai-
ly life gait quality, and prospective fall incidence during 6-12 months follow-up.
Results: We showed that the rate of muscle force generation, inhibitory abil-
ities and adequate self-perception of physical abilities are important factors
when responding to expected and unexpected balance perturbations. Our
ambulant studies revealed that measures of the quality of daily life gait have sig-
nificant added value in predicting falls.
Discussion and conclusions: Early detection and intervention of the quality of
mobility and gait can help to prevent falls at later age. Screening of mobility and
fall risk should incorporate measures of what people can do (abilities), what
they actually do (activities) and what they think they can do (perception).
Keywords: fall prevention, balance perturbations, activity monitoring, self-
efficacy, physical decline
35
measurements in the lab and in daily life
Mirjam Pijnappels
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, van
der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, Netherlands
Introduction: Age-related physical and cognitive decline can cause mobility
problems and falls in older people. Early risk identification can facilitate timely
interventions. The aim of my presentation is to give an overview of studies to
quantify mobility and fall risk in older people, based on measures obtained in
the lab, as well as measures from daily life activities.
Methods: In experimental studies, we measured obstacle avoidance, respons-
es to balance perturbations and self-perceived fall risk, based on kinematic, ki-
netic and muscle activity patterns. From ambulant studies, we obtained 1-week
wearable sensor data from cohorts of 300 participants to calculate their dai-
ly life gait quality, and prospective fall incidence during 6-12 months follow-up.
Results: We showed that the rate of muscle force generation, inhibitory abil-
ities and adequate self-perception of physical abilities are important factors
when responding to expected and unexpected balance perturbations. Our
ambulant studies revealed that measures of the quality of daily life gait have sig-
nificant added value in predicting falls.
Discussion and conclusions: Early detection and intervention of the quality of
mobility and gait can help to prevent falls at later age. Screening of mobility and
fall risk should incorporate measures of what people can do (abilities), what
they actually do (activities) and what they think they can do (perception).
Keywords: fall prevention, balance perturbations, activity monitoring, self-
efficacy, physical decline
35
