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Physical functioning, physical health and activity

Section edited by Ian Cameron

This section covers activities of daily living, frailty, fractures, falls, exercise, posture, gait, hip complications, complications with general bodily functions, e.g. gastroenterological, urological.

Page 1 of 12

  1. Dysphagia is a common health care problem and poses significant risks including mortality and hospitalization. China has many unsolved long-term care problems, as it is a developing country with the largest ag...

    Authors: Shen Chen, Yan Cui, Yaping Ding, Changxian Sun, Ying Xing, Rong Zhou and Guohua Liu

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:352

    Content type: Research article

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  2. Holistic care models emphasize management of comorbid conditions to improve patient-reported outcomes in treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated relations between multimorbidity, physical frailt...

    Authors: Hawa O. Abu, Jane Saczynski, Jordy Mehawej, Tenes Paul, Hamza Awad, Benita A. Bamgbade, Isabelle C. Pierre-Louis, Mayra Tisminetzky, Catarina I. Kiefe, Robert J. Goldberg and David D. McManus

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:343

    Content type: Research article

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  3. Antibiotic overprescribing for suspected urinary tract infection (UTI) in nursing homes (NHs) is common. Typical clinical scenarios in which antibiotics are inappropriately prescribed include response to nonsp...

    Authors: Jeanine J. S. Rutten, Laura W. van Buul, Martin Smalbrugge, Suzanne E. Geerlings, Debby L. Gerritsen, Stephanie Natsch, Philip D. Sloane, Ruth B. Veenhuizen, Johannes C. van der Wouden and Cees M. P. M. Hertogh

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:341

    Content type: Study protocol

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  4. Age alone is not a robust predictor of mortality in critically ill elderly patients. Chronic health status and functional status before admission could be better predictors. This study aimed to determine wheth...

    Authors: A. D’Andrea, D. Le Peillet, T. Fassier, V. Prendki, V. Trombert, J-L Reny and X. Roux

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:334

    Content type: Research article

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  5. Exercise improves glycemic control and functional capacity in elderly people with diabetes; however, its effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and medical resource use remains unclear. This study ai...

    Authors: Chien-Cheng Huang, Chien-Chin Hsu, Chong-Chi Chiu, Hung-Jung Lin, Jhi-Joung Wang and Shih-Feng Weng

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:331

    Content type: Research article

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  6. Caring for people with dementia (PwD) is often challenging for caregiving relatives. Respite care (RC) is a commonly used short-term inpatient service. The provision of RC can serve as a link between home care...

    Authors: Steffen Heinrich, Caren Horstmannshoff and Bernhard Holle

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:326

    Content type: Research article

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  7. A qualitative, interview-based study was embedded in a randomized intervention trial, the Older People Exercise and Nutrition (OPEN) study. Participants in the OPEN study were encouraged to conduct sessions of...

    Authors: Sofia Vikström, Helena K. Grönstedt, Tommy Cederholm, Erika Franzén, Åke Seiger, Gerd Faxén-Irving and Anne-Marie Boström

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:324

    Content type: Research article

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  8. Exercise intervention can significantly improve physical function and bone strength; however, the effect of exercise on fall-related fractures in older adults remains controversial. This study aimed to assess ...

    Authors: Qiang Wang, Xiaowei Jiang, Yingchao Shen, Ping Yao, Jun Chen, Yuan Zhou, Yunfeng Gu, Zhiyuan Qian and Xi Cao

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:322

    Content type: Research article

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  9. There is still controversy about the relationship between aging and changes in functional ability. This study aims to describe the level of basic activities of daily living (ADL) and higher-level instrumental ...

    Authors: Hongpeng Liu, Jing Jiao, Chen Zhu, Minglei Zhu, Xianxiu Wen, Jingfen Jin, Hui Wang, Dongmei Lv, Shengxiu Zhao, Xinjuan Wu and Tao Xu

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:319

    Content type: Research article

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  10. Frailty refers to the reduction in homeostatic reserve resulting from an accumulation of physiological deficits over a lifetime. Frailty is common in older patients undergoing surgery and is an independent ris...

    Authors: J. Knight, K. Ayyash, K. Colling, J. Dhesi, V. Ewan, G. Danjoux, E. Kothmann, A. Mill, S. Taylor, D. Yates and Reema Ayyash

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:311

    Content type: Study protocol

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  11. Clinicians are currently challenged to support older adults to maintain a certain level of Functional Independence (FI). FI is defined as “functioning physically safely and independent from another person, wit...

    Authors: Yvonne J. C. Dockx, Esther A. L. M. Molenaar, Di-Janne J. A. Barten and Cindy Veenhof

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:309

    Content type: Research article

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  12. The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People has recently defined new criteria for identifying “(probable) sarcopenia” (EWGSOP2). However, the prevalence of probable sarcopenia, defined by these gu...

    Authors: Julia Wearing, Peter Konings, Rob A. de Bie, Maria Stokes and Eling D. de Bruin

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:307

    Content type: Research article

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  13. Balance impairments are the leading causes of falls in older adults. Aquatic-based exercises have been broadly practiced as an alternative to land-based exercises; however, the effects on dynamic balance have ...

    Authors: Youngwook Kim, Michael N. Vakula, Benjamin Waller and Eadric Bressel

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:302

    Content type: Research article

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  14. Evidence is scarce on the trend in prevalence of physical frailty in China; the primary purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence and correlates of physical frailty among older nursing home resident...

    Authors: Weiwei Liu, Martine Puts, Fen Jiang, Chuyi Zhou, Siyuan Tang and Sanmei Chen

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:294

    Content type: Research article

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  15. Obesity is a known predictor of disability and functional limitations, and, in turn, of health care use. In this study, we aim to explore whether obesity is also a significant risk factor for future long-term ...

    Authors: Olena Nizalova, Katerina Gousia and Julien Forder

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:293

    Content type: Research article

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  16. To investigate item-level measurement properties of the Modified Falls Efficacy (MFES) Scale among English- and Spanish-speaking urban-dwelling older adults as a means to evaluate language equivalence of the t...

    Authors: Robert J. Lucero, Sergio Romero, Robert Fieo, Yamnia Cortes, Jeannie P. Cimiotti and Lusine Poghosyan

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:286

    Content type: Research article

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  17. Sarcopenia, particularly low handgrip strength has been observed and correlated in association with hypertension among the older people. However, the results reported in different studies were inconsistent. In...

    Authors: Tingting Bai, Fang Fang, Feika Li, Yan Ren, Jiaan Hu and Jiumei Cao

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:279

    Content type: Research article

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  18. Prolonged daily sedentary time is associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases, impaired physical function, and mortality. Older adults are more sedentary than any other age group and those in as...

    Authors: M. L. Voss, J. P. Pope, R. Larouche and J. L. Copeland

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:277

    Content type: Research article

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  19. Physical activity (PA) is low among elderly residents in nursing homes in China. We aimed to determine the factors that influence PA among elderly nursing home residents and their direct or indirect effects on...

    Authors: Jingxin Huang, Youqing Zou, Wentao Huang, Ye Zhou, Shanshan Lin, Jiaojiao Chen and Yutao Lan

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:274

    Content type: Research article

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  20. Joint contractures in frail older people are associated with serious restrictions in participation. We developed the Participation Enabling CAre in Nursing (PECAN) intervention, a complex intervention to enabl...

    Authors: Hanna Klingshirn, Martin Müller, Katrin Beutner, Julian Hirt, Ralf Strobl, Eva Grill, Gabriele Meyer and Susanne Saal

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:270

    Content type: Research article

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  21. Personality reflects relatively stable and pervasive tendencies in feeling, thinking and behaving. While previous studies have found higher extraversion and lower neuroticism to be linked to higher self-report...

    Authors: Tiia Kekäläinen, Eija K. Laakkonen, Antonio Terracciano, Tiina Savikangas, Matti Hyvärinen, Tuija H. Tammelin, Timo Rantalainen, Timo Törmäkangas, Urho M. Kujala, Markku Alen, Vuokko Kovanen, Sarianna Sipilä and Katja Kokko

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:264

    Content type: Research article

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  22. Being active is vital and a source of well-being. However, 18 months after hip fracture (HF), progress seems to have come to a halt. Aged adults may feel vulnerable, experiencing ongoing dependency and limited...

    Authors: Birgit Rasmussen, Claus Vinther Nielsen and Lisbeth Uhrenfeldt

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:263

    Content type: Research article

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  23. Many older adults in the U.S. do not achieve the recommended amount of physical activity (PA) to fully realize a myriad of health benefits. Adiposity is one of those important correlates of PA and sedentary be...

    Authors: Wenfei Zhu, Zhiwei Cheng, Virginia J. Howard, Suzanne E. Judd, Steven N. Blair, Yuliang Sun and Steven P. Hooker

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:257

    Content type: Research article

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  24. Approximately 35% of individuals > 70 years have mobility limitations. Historically, it was posited lean mass and muscle strength were major contributors to mobility limitations, but recent findings indicate l...

    Authors: Nathan P. Wages, Janet E. Simon, Leatha A. Clark, Shinichi Amano, David W. Russ, Todd M. Manini and Brian C. Clark

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:255

    Content type: Research article

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  25. There is increasing interest in examining the life space mobility and activity participation of older adults in the community using sensor technology. Objective data from these technologies may overcome the li...

    Authors: Soon Hoe Ho, Dion Piu Sern Tan, Pey June Tan, Ka Wei Ng, Zoe Zon Be Lim, Isabel Hui Leng Ng, Lok Hang Wong, Mimaika Luluina Ginting, Belinda Yuen, Ullal Jagadish Mallya, Mei Sian Chong and Chek Hooi Wong

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:251

    Content type: Research article

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  27. Step-recovery responses are critical in preventing falls when balance is lost unexpectedly. We investigated the kinematics and strategies of balance recovery in older adults with a varying history of falls.

    Authors: Shani Batcir, Guy Shani, Amir Shapiro, Neil Alexander and Itshak Melzer

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:249

    Content type: Research article

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  28. There is a high prevalence of gait impairments in individuals with dementia (IWD). Gait impairments are associated with increased risk of falls, disability, and economic burden for health care systems. Only fe...

    Authors: Sandra Trautwein, Bettina Barisch-Fritz, Andrea Scharpf, Steffen Ringhof, Thorsten Stein, Janina Krell-Roesch and Alexander Woll

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:245

    Content type: Research article

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  29. Sarcopenia is defined as the age-related loss of muscle mass, strength, and physical performance. The original European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older Persons (EWGSOP1) definition, and its revision (EWGS...

    Authors: Steven Phu, Ben Kirk, Ebrahim Bani Hassan, Sara Vogrin, Jesse Zanker, Solange Bernardo and Gustavo Duque

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:242

    Content type: Research article

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  30. Older adults are vulnerable to the effects of acute sarcopenia (acute muscle insufficiency) following hospitalisation. However, this condition remains poorly characterised to date. It is hypothesised that acut...

    Authors: Carly Welch, Carolyn A. Greig, Tahir Masud, Thomas Pinkney and Thomas A. Jackson

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:239

    Content type: Study protocol

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  31. The oldest old is the fastest growing age group worldwide and the most prone to severe disability, especially in relation to loss of cognitive function. Improving our understanding of the predictors of cogniti...

    Authors: Mariagnese Barbera, Jenni Kulmala, Inna Lisko, Eija Pietilä, Anna Rosenberg, Ilona Hallikainen, Merja Hallikainen, Tiina Laatikainen, Jenni Lehtisalo, Elisa Neuvonen, Minna Rusanen, Hilkka Soininen, Jaakko Tuomilehto, Tiia Ngandu, Alina Solomon and Miia Kivipelto

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:238

    Content type: Study protocol

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  32. The original Pittsburgh Fatigability Scale (PFS) was developed to assess perceived fatigability in older adults. The objective of this study was to translate the PFS into Dutch and investigate its validity and...

    Authors: Marlies Feenstra, Nynke Smidt, Barbara C. van Munster, Nancy W. Glynn and Sophia E. de Rooij

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:234

    Content type: Research article

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  33. Physical activity can be classified as open-skilled or closed-skilled. Open-skilled physical activity, such as tennis, require participants to perform within a dynamic setting and respond to unpredictable and ...

    Authors: Monisha Ingold, Nikki Tulliani, Chetwyn C. H. Chan and Karen P. Y. Liu

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:229

    Content type: Research article

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  34. Objective deterioration in activities of daily living (ADLs) exists among older population, and particularly worsens with age. Considering the criterion standard of positive aging and longevity, little informa...

    Authors: Ke Han, Shengshu Wang, Wangping Jia, Wenzhe Cao, Miao Liu, Shanshan Yang, Jianhua Wang and Yao He

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:228

    Content type: Research article

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  36. Despite public focus on the importance of physical activity and findings showing the benefits of such activity, research has shown that people with dementia are less physically active and have more sedentary b...

    Authors: B. Finnanger Garshol, L. H. Ellingsen-Dalskau and I. Pedersen

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:219

    Content type: Research article

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  37. We aimed to assess the utility of the combination of the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) + clock drawing test (CDT) and the Fried phenotype for predicting non-elective hospital readmission or death within...

    Authors: Si-Min Yao, Pei-Pei Zheng, Yao-Dan Liang, Yu-Hao Wan, Ning Sun, Yao Luo, Jie-Fu Yang and Hua Wang

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:218

    Content type: Research article

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  38. Readmission is a serious and adverse event for elderly patients. Despite efforts, predicting the risk of readmission remains imprecise. The objective of this study is to examine if performance-based tests of d...

    Authors: Louise Moeldrup Nielsen, Thomas Maribo, Hans Kirkegaard, Mette Kops Bjerregaard and Lisa Gregersen Oestergaard

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:217

    Content type: Research article

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  39. Hearing loss, a highly prevalent sensory impairment affecting older adults, is a risk factor for cognition decline. However, there were very limited studies on this association in low-resource countries. This ...

    Authors: Jiamin Gao, Nicole M. Armstrong, Jennifer A. Deal, Frank R. Lin and Ping He

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:215

    Content type: Research article

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  40. Fall prevention exercise programmes are known to be effective, but access to these programmes is not always possible. The use of eHealth solutions might be a way forward to increase access and reach a wider po...

    Authors: Linda Mansson, Lillemor Lundin-Olsson, Dawn A. Skelton, Rebecka Janols, Helena Lindgren, Erik Rosendahl and Marlene Sandlund

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:209

    Content type: Research article

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  41. Falls are the leading cause of injuries among older adults. Perturbation-based balance training (PBT) is an innovative approach to fall prevention that aims to improve the reactive balance response following p...

    Authors: Leigh J. Allin, P. Gunnar Brolinson, Briana M. Beach, Sunwook Kim, Maury A. Nussbaum, Karen A. Roberto and Michael L. Madigan

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:205

    Content type: Research article

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  42. Physical inactivity is prevalent in older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and may exacerbate their clinical symptoms. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of 4-h regular versus more...

    Authors: Uros Marusic, Martijn L. T. M. Müller, Neil B. Alexander and Nicolaas I. Bohnen

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:204

    Content type: Research article

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  43. Frailty and hemoglobin concentration, above what would be considered clinical anemia, are two common findings in older patients that lead to an increased risk of negative health outcomes. The objective of this...

    Authors: Zara Steinmeyer, Cyrille Delpierre, Gaelle Soriano, Armand Steinmeyer, Loic Ysebaert, Laurent Balardy and Sandrine Sourdet

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:202

    Content type: Research article

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  44. Accidental falls are common among community-dwellers, probably due to the level of physical activity and impaired postural stability. Today, fall risk prediction tools’ discriminative validity are only moderat...

    Authors: Morten Villumsen, Bo Grarup, Steffan Wittrup Mc Phee Christensen, Thorvaldur Skuli Palsson and Rogerio Pessoto Hirata

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:198

    Content type: Study protocol

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  45. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to be more effective than moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) for the physical rehabilitation. However, data on its suitability for older hospit...

    Authors: Rita Pires Peixoto, Véronique Trombert, Antoine Poncet, Jérôme Kizlik, Gabriel Gold, Georg Ehret, Andrea Trombetti and Jean-Luc Reny

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:197

    Content type: Research article

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  46. Walking is the most common population-wide campaign for health promotion in older people. However, the cutoff threshold for walking steps/day to identify the older people who are at risk of falling is not reco...

    Authors: T. Aranyavalai, C. Jalayondeja, W. Jalayondeja, S. Pichaiyongwongdee, J. Kaewkungwal and J. J. Laskin

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:194

    Content type: Research article

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  48. Reduced mobility may be responsible for functional decline and acute sarcopenia in older hospitalised patients. The drivers of reduced in-hospital mobility are poorly understood, especially during the early ph...

    Authors: Peter Hartley, Amanda L. DeWitt, Faye Forsyth, Roman Romero-Ortuno and Christi Deaton

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:177

    Content type: Research article

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  49. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease and increases with age. While supervised exercise (SE) may be an effective approach, web-based exercise (WE) have other advantag...

    Authors: Marcel Ballin, Andreas Hult, Sabine Björk, Emmy Lundberg, Peter Nordström and Anna Nordström

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:173

    Content type: Research article

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  50. The European population is rapidly ageing. There is an urgent need for innovative solutions to reduce fall risk in older adults. Perturbation-based gait training is a promising new method to improve reactive b...

    Authors: Markus M. Rieger, Selma Papegaaij, Frans Steenbrink, Jaap H. van Dieën and Mirjam Pijnappels

    Citation: BMC Geriatrics 2020 20:167

    Content type: Study protocol

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