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Biomedical subjects

L A Talbot

Publications and source records attributed to L A Talbot.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Relationship between muscle strength and the time taken to complete a standardized walk-turn-walk test.

We examined the effects of age and gender on the relationship between knee strength and walking time during a walk-turn-walk test in 176 male and 168 female generally healthy participants of the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging who were aged 21-89 years. Subjects were timed as they walked 50 ft (15.24 m), turned around, and walked back to the starting point, both at a comfortable pace and as fast as possible. Isokinetic concentric knee extensor strength was measured at 30 degrees /s by using a Kin-Com dynamometer. Both comfortable and fast gait times increased with increasing age for both women and men, starting in middle age. An interaction was found between gender and age showing that older women are slower than older men at both paces. Gait time decreased linearly with increasing knee extensor strength, plateauing at higher strength levels (>130 N m for comfortable gait, and 190 N m for fast gait). Most women occupied the linear part of the curve below the plateau. Adjustment for body size, age, physical activity, and particularly number of steps to complete the task removed the relationship between strength and gait time for the comfortable gait. Women took longer to complete the walk-turn-walk test than men at older ages, were on the linear part of the strength-gait time relationship, and used more steps to complete the task, all of which may contribute to their greater likelihood of frailty in later years.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Leisure-time physical activities and their relationship to cardiorespiratory fitness in healthy men and women 18-95 years old.

PURPOSE: We examined leisure-time physical activities (LTPA) and their contribution to peak oxygen consumption (VO2) in healthy men (N = 619) and women (N = 497) aged 18-95 yr (mean 51 +/- 17) who were participants of the Baltimore Longitudinal study of Aging. METHODS: Calculations of LTPA were based on the average self-reported time spent performing 97 activities and converted into MET-min x 24 h(-1). The activities were divided into three levels of LTPA based on absolute intensity. Peak VO2 was determined from a maximal treadmill exercise test. RESULTS: Total LTPA was inversely related to age in both sexes (r = -0.26, P < 0.0001 in men and r = -0.23, P < 0.0001 in women), mediated primarily by less high-intensity activities in older subjects, with only minor differences in moderate- and low-intensity activities across age. Peak VO2 correlated positively with LTPA; the correlations were strongest for high-intensity LTPA (r = 0.33 in men and 0.27 in women, each P < 0.0001), intermediate for moderate-intensity activity (r = 0.12, P < 0.004 in men and r = 0.17, P < 0.0001 in women) and minimal for low-intensity activity (r = 0.08, P = 0.05 in men and r = 0.06, P = 0.20 in women). On univariate analysis, total LTPA accounted for 12.9% of peak VO2 variance for men and 10.6% for women. By multivariate analysis, LTPA independently accounted for 1.6% of the peak VO2 variance in men and 1.8% in women after controlling for age and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: In healthy adults across a broad age range, LTPA is a relatively minor independent contributor to aerobic capacity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Defining and measuring balance in adults.

The ability to maintain balance is often taken for granted, yet it is the foundation for mobility and overall functional independence throughout the life span. The purpose of this article is to define balance, review the components of balance, and describe common instruments used to measure balance. Clinical screening instruments, functional performance tests, and technological measures of balance are reviewed addressing their uses, strengths, and limitations.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1999

Isokinetic strength testing in research and practice.

Age-related losses in lower extremity strength result in functional disabilities that diminish the quality of life for many older adults. Multiple factors, including type of muscle fiber, size of the muscle, length and speed of the muscle at contraction, age, and gender, affect the magnitude of strength generated. Assessment in clinical practice, in order to be cost and time effective, screens older adults for loss in strength. Further evaluation of strength loss requires the use of sophisticated procedures and equipment. Research into the causes of loss of strength and interventions to lessen or prevent loss of strength requires valid and reliable assessment tools. This article examines components of isokinetic muscle strength, the measurement of strength in clinical practice, methods to measure isokinetic strength, and validity and reliability of these measures.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Assessing body composition: the skinfold method.

1. Excess body fat contributes to many chronic diseases. Using a case scenario, an initial screening assessment is performed on two clients. The occupational health nurse provides feedback on current lifestyle behaviors and educates the clients about relevant lifestyle changes. 2. Tables illustrate the step by step procedures for measuring body fat using the skinfold thickness method. Photographs show the multiple body sites used in the skinfold analysis. 3. Commonly asked client questions related to body fat are discussed in detail, and the use of body fat assessment as a screening method for the health promotion professional is described.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Coping with urinary incontinence: development and testing of a scale.

Using psychometric theory and Mitteness' theory of urinary incontinence, the author developed a 159-item self-report, interval level, and norm-referenced scale to measure the effectiveness of coping with urinary incontinence. As a result of the expert evaluation, The Coping With Urinary Incontinence Scale was reduced from 159 items to 64 items. A pilot study determined initial internal consistency estimates for the scale. One hundred seventy-three community-residing, incontinent older adults participated in the major study. The Cronbach's Alpha for internal consistency reliability for the final version of 39 items was .9359 (standardized item alpha = .9526). Ten subscales were created: strengthening muscles, coping sexually, intimate moments, seeking health care strategies, controlling urge and loss of urine, rearranging physical environment, expressing emotions, concealing attempts, seeking social support/rearranging social environment, and managing in social situations.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Differences in coping strategies among community-residing older adults with functional urinary continence, dysfunctional urinary continence and actual urinary incontinence.

With a prevalence of urinary incontinence in the community of approximately 30 percent for older adults, and mixed findings on the relationship between psychosocial effects and bladder patterns, it is important to understand the effective (functional) and ineffective (dysfunctional) coping mechanisms older adults use to confront incontinence. This study examined 117 participants who were mentally competent, able to communicate in English, not confined to bed, and residing in the community. Ages ranged from 58 to 93 years with a mean of 75.6. Participants were distributed into three groups: dysfunctional continence (28.2%), functional continence (32.5%) and urinary incontinence (39.2%). A self-reporting, 4-point, Likert-like scale was used to determine coping methods. The functional continence group varied significantly from the dysfunctional continence and actual incontinence groups. Chi-square analysis indicated significant differences between the two groups in four items regarding the use of fluid restriction, management of odor, attitude, and the influence of age. There were significant differences in coping scores and gender, with women scoring higher. Finally, 73 to 85 percent of the dysfunctional continence and actual incontinence groups never talked to any healthcare provider about their urinary concerns. These high percentages emphasize that nurses must actively seek ways to open communication and discuss sensitive topics with older clients.

Adaptation, Psychological↗