Effects of High-Frequency Proprioceptive Training on Single Stance Stability in Older Adults: Implications for Fall Prevention.

Single-limb stance instability is a major risk factor for falls in older adults. Thus, improvement of stance stability could play an important role in fall prevention. This study aimed to determine whether high-frequency proprioceptive training (HPT) could significantly improve single stance stability (SSS) in older adults, by increasing proprioceptive control and optimizing the contribution of vision. Sixty-one subjects (30 men, 31 women) aged 65-85 years were investigated. The subjects were randomly assigned to three intervention groups, i.e., HPT, treadmill, and no intervention, stratifying by gender and proprioceptive control at baseline. Stability tests and HPT, consisting of 12 sessions (6 weeks), were performed with computerized postural stations. Pre-post analysis showed that HPT significantly improved SSS by increasing proprioceptive control (p<0.001) and postural control (p<0.01). The treadmill and no intervention groups did not show any significant change. The results showed that different levels of proprioceptive control may activate, inhibit, or minimize the stabilizing intervention of vision. Given that HPT significantly reduced ankle sprains and low back pain in professional athletes (previous study), we discuss the hypothesis that the risk of falls in older adults and the risk of recurrent injuries in athletes would have a common origin: lack of proprioceptive control consequent to reduced interaction with uneven ground. The findings suggest that HPT may be a powerful activator of refined proprioceptive control, which allows increased SSS, safer interaction with the ground, and mitigation of other risk factors.

Single stance stability and proprioceptive control in older adults living at home: gender and age differences.

In developed countries, falls in older people represent a rising problem. As effective prevention should start before the risk becomes evident, an early predictor is needed. Single stance instability would appear as a major risk factor. Aims of the study were to describe single stance stability, its sensory components, and their correlation with age and gender. A random sample of 597 older adults (319 men, 278 women) living at home, aged 65-84, was studied. Stability tests were performed with an electronic postural station. The single stance test showed the impairment of single stance stability in older individuals (75-84 yrs). The significant decline of stability in the older subjects may be explained by the impairment of proprioceptive control together with the decrease in compensatory visual stabilization and emergency responses. Younger subjects (65-74 yrs) exhibited better, but still inadequate, proprioceptive control with compensatory visual stabilization. Gender differences appeared in older subjects: women were significantly less stable than men. The measurement of the sensory components of single stance stability could aid in the early detection of a decay in antigravity movements many years before the risk of falling becomes evident. Adequate proprioceptive control could mitigate the effects of all other risks of falling.

[Usefulness of databases of general practitioners: the study of chronic cardiovascular diseases in a health district of Turin, Italy]. / Utilità delle informazioni raccolte tramite medici di medicina generale: lo studio delle malattie cardiovascolari croniche in un distretto sanitario torinese.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of chronic cardiovascular diseases in the territory of a health district in Turin (Italy) to achieve better management of healthcare services according to healthcare needs. METHODS: In order to assess healthcare needs, we surveyed the prevalence of five cardiovascular chronic diseases in the general population, using data from the general practitioners of one health district. RESULTS: Eighty-six general practitioners participated in the study, collecting data regarding 87 885 attendees, for the year 2010. Among men, the following prevalence rates were estimated: 2% prior myocardial infarction, 2.4% other forms of chronic ischemic heart disease, 2% cardiac arrhythmias, 0.4% heart failure, 0.9% late effects of cerebrovascular disease. Prevalence rates were lower among women, except for dysrhythmias and heart failure, and were increasing with age. Prevalence rates were higher than those previously reported by the Italian Cardiovascular Epidemiological Observatory for northwestern regions. In addition, differences in disease distribution were observed among patients when comparing male doctors and female doctors. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show several critical issues in primary care, suggesting the need for improving the healthcare delivery system within the health district according to local care needs.

Importance of sociodemographic and morbidity aspects in measuring health-related quality of life: performances of three tools: comparison of three questionnaire scores.

BACKGROUND: Since health-related quality of life (HRQL) measures are numerous, comparisons have been suggested. AIM: To compare three HRQL measures: SF6D, HUI3 and EQ5D. METHODS: Three questionnaires (SF36, HUI3, EQ5D) were administered to 1,011 patients attending 16 general practices in two Italian cities. Information about patients' gender, age, education, marital status, smoking, body mass index (BMI) and chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases) were also collected. Questionnaires scores were calculated using the appropriate algorithms; in particular SF6D scores were obtained from SF36 items. Agreement and correlation between questionnaires scores were investigated using Bland and Altman method and Spearman coefficient. The influence of socio-demographic and morbidity indicators on scores was analysed using the nonparametric quantile regression. RESULTS: The Spearman coefficient was about 0.6 for all questionnaires. The 95% limits of agreement of the scores were approximately from -0.5 to 0.3 except for SF6D and EQ5D when they were from -0.4 to 0.2. The measures were influenced by socio-demographic and clinical variables in a similar way, especially SF6D (the index obtained from SF36) and EQ5D, which appeared to be influenced by the same pattern of factors, including gender, chronic diseases, smoking and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the agreement between questionnaires scores was quite low, whilst the correlation level was good. Questionnaire scores were influenced by socio-demographic and clinical variables in a similar way, especially SF6D and EQ5D. Therefore, the descriptive capacity of SF6D and EQ5D was found to be similar.

[Strategies for assessing clinical and veterinary management of a local health authority in Central Italy]. / Azioni strategiche direzionali a sostegno del sistema di valutazione della dirigenza medica e veterinaria di una Asl del Centro Italia.

The authors have analyzed the one-year performance of a method aimed at assessing clinical and veterinary managements within the complex organization of a health unit. There are described methods for assigning organizational offices, assessment schemes, criteria and indicators.