ABSTRACT
Physical exercise would improve postural stability, which is an essential factor in preventing accidental fall among the elderly population. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of treadmill walking on balance improvement among the elderly people. A total of 30 community dwelling older adults with a Berg Balance Scale score of 36-48 and the ability to walk without aid were considered and divided into control [n=15] and experimental [n=15] groups. Individuals in the experimental group participated in 30 minutes of forward and backward treadmill training based on three times a week interval for a period of four weeks. Individuals in the control group were instructed to continue with their daily routine activity. Before and after training, gait speed was measured by six-minute walk test and balance ability was evaluated by Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale [FABS] and Berg Balance Scale [BBS] tests. Postural sway items such as the Center of Pressure [COP], average displacement and velocity were evaluated by using a force platform system. Data were collected in quiet standing, tandem position and standing on foam pads before and after intervention. After intervention, balance variables in the experimental group indicated a significant improvement in quiet standing on firm and foam surfaces, but no considerable improvement was shown in tandem position. A between-group comparison showed a significant reduction in COP velocity in the sagittal plane [P=0.030] during quiet standing and in the frontal plane [P=0.001] during standing on foam, whereas no significant reduction in COP parameters during tandem position was found. It is recommended that twelve sessions of forward and backward treadmill walk are effective in balance improvement in elderly people
ABSTRACT
Our information about renal involvement in beta-thalassemia major is limited. Recently, few studies have reported proteinuria, hypercalcuria, phosphaturia, and oversecretion of tubular damage markers; however, hematuria has not yet been meticulously studied in these patients. We investigated hematuria in patients with beta-thalassemia major. Urinalysis was performed in 500 patients with beta-thalassemia major under a regular blood transfusion program. In those with hematuria [at least 3 to 5 erythrocytes per high-power field] a second urinalysis was done at the next transfusion time. The patients ranged in age from 6 months to 32 years. The male-female ratio was 1.05:1. Hematuria was detected in 55 [10.6%], including 9.8% of those younger than 20 years and 20.0% of those older than 20 years. Hematuria was persistent in 79.2% of the second urinalyses. Sixty-four percent of the patients with hematuria were females. A blood transfusion program had been started during the first year of life in 81% percent of the patients with hematuria. Sterile pyuria was detected in 4% and proteinuria in 16% of the patients with hematuria, while these figures in patients without hematuria were 2.1% [P=.56] and 1.4% [P=.002], respectively. We found that in patients with beta-thalassemia major, the risk of hematuria rises with age. Moreover, proteinuria seems to be more common in those with hematuria. Further studies are needed to ascertain the importance of these findings