SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “functional performance”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources

PubMedDate not supplied

Performance-intensity functions as a predictor for binaural amplification.

It has been suggested that a generalized central auditory deficit which is often present in the aged population might be a contraindication for successful hearing aid use. The present study examined the relationship between measured central auditory deficit and binaural versus monaural aided performance. Subjects were adults, aged 65 or older, with bilateral sensorineural hearing impairments. Unaided phonetically balanced monosyllabic word (PB) and Synthetic Sentence Identification (SSI) performance-intensity functions were obtained followed by aided monaural and binaural speech recognition measurements. A direct relationship between measured central deficit (PBmax-SSImax) and binaural versus monaural superiority was not found because most subjects showed no significant differences for the PB/SSI or binaural/monaural measurements. The best predictor for binaural superiority was found to be the slope of the performance-intensity function, with significant correlations obtained for both the PB and SSI materials.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Correlates of physical activity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is a key dimension of functional status in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the central target of interventions in this group. OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationships among functional performance measured as physical activity, functional capacity, symptom experiences, and health-related quality of life in people with COPD. METHOD: Cross-sectional, descriptive study. Convenience sample of 63 outpatients with COPD studied prior to entry into a pulmonary rehabilitation program. RESULTS: Daily physical activity, as measured by an accelerometer, was strongly associated with maximal distance walked during a 6-minute walk test (r = .60, p < .00), level of airway obstruction (r = .37, p < .01), walking self-efficacy (r = .27, p < .05), and physical health status (r = .40, p < .01). Physical activity was not correlated with self-report of functional status. The only predictor of physical activity was the 6-minute walk test. CONCLUSIONS: Accelerometer measurement of functional performance was most significantly related to walking abilities. This methodology represents a novel approach to measuring an important dimension of functional status not previously well quantified.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMedDate not supplied

SSW test performance-intensity functions for hearing-impaired adults.

The present study investigated the effects of intensity on hearing-impaired adults' performance on the Staggered Spondaic Word (SSW) test. Fifteen adults having mild-to-moderate cochlear hearing losses were administered the 40-item SSW test which was subdivided into four groups of ten items each, and presented at different intensity levels (20, 30, 40, and 50 dB SL re the three-frequency, pure-tone average). Subjects' responses were used to generate performance-intensity functions. Scores were analyzed for overall, competing, and noncompeting conditions. No significant differences were found for these hearing-impaired listeners' performance for items presented at the standard 50 dB and those at the low sensation levels.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Have no fear, erythropoietin is here: erythropoietin protects fear conditioning performances after functional inactivation of the amygdala.

This study investigated the capacity of erythropoietin (EPO) to protect fear conditioning performances against functional inactivation of the amygdala. We infused an excitotoxic dose of glutamate in the lateral nucleus of the amygdala (LA) of adult rats in order to block the output projections to brainstem areas controlling the expression of conditioned fear responses. Subsequently, animals with excitotoxic lesions in the LA displayed altered short and long-term fear conditioned responses, but the integrity of their general emotional reactivity was preserved, as indicated by their open-field behavior. EPO infused immediately after glutamate succeeded to protect the conditioned fear performances of rats. This effect was reliably represented on both short, and long-term memory tests of conditioned fear. This and other studies have supported the potent neuroprotective activity of EPO, discriminable both morphologically, and behaviorally.

Amygdala↗

PubMed2002

The validity of the GaitRite and the Functional Ambulation Performance scoring system in the analysis of Parkinson gait.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was (1) to determine the validity of the GaitRite System in detecting footfall patterns and selected gait characteristics of person with early stage Parkinson's disease (PD) and (2) to investigate whether the Functional Ambulation Performance (FAP) scoring system is a valid tool to distinguish between selected gait characteristics of patients with early stage Parkinson's disease and similar age of non-impaired individuals. The FAP score is a quantitative means of assessing gait based on specific spatial and temporal gait parameters. PARTICIPANTS: 11 volunteers with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, (mean age = 74.3), and 11 age matched volunteers, (mean age = 70.3), with no history of neurological disorder participated in the study. The non-impaired control group were not matched in age and sex but of similar age and males and females were represented in the control group. METHODS: Temporal and spatial parameters of gait were analyzed for both preferred- speed and fast-speed walking using the computerized GaitRite system. The system integrates specific components of locomotion to provide a single, numerical representation of gait, the Functional Ambulation Performance Score (FAP) score. RESULTS: The most powerful and discriminating variable between Parkinson's and non-impaired groups for both walking speeds was the mean normalized velocity (MNV). Which is velocity divided by leg length. The MNV was 0.83 for PD at preferred walking speed and 1.14 at fast speed, the non-impaired group preferred-speed group walking was 1.33, while fast-speed walking MNV was 1.70. Note the fast walking of PD was slower than the preferred velocity of the non-impaired group. For preferred-speed walking, all gait variables analyzed in the study were different between the two groups beyond the p < 0.05 level of confidence with the single exception of right stance percentage. For fast-speed walking, three of the entered variables did not discriminate between the two groups: the fast walking FAP score, left fast-walking cadence, and right fast-walking single support percentage. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION: Our results indicate that persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) attain a significantly lower FAP score when ambulating at their preferred rate and demonstrate shorter step length and a longer step time than the age matched non-impaired group during both preferred and fast velocities of walking. Stance duration and double support duration were increased for the Parkinson's population, whereas single support duration, mean cadence, and heel-to-heel base of support were markedly reduced for both walking speeds. The FAP score was significantly different from the non-impaired control group for preferred-speed walking. These results indicate that the GaitRite system can be useful in detecting footfall patterns and selected time and distance measurements of persons with early stage Parkinson's disease and the FAP score discriminates between the PD population and the non-impaired controls when walking at preferred rate but not at fast walking.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

The development of the LV Prasad-Functional Vision Questionnaire: a measure of functional vision performance of visually impaired children.

PURPOSE: To develop a reliable and valid questionnaire (the LV Prasad-Functional Vision Questionnaire, LVP-FVQ) to assess self-reported functional vision problems of visually impaired school children. METHODS: The LVP-FVQ consisting of 19 items was administered verbally to 78 visually impaired Indian school children aged 8 to 18 years. Responses for each item were rated on a 5-point scale. A Rasch analysis of the ordinal difficulty ratings was used to estimate interval measures of perceived visual ability for functional vision performance. RESULTS: Content validity of the LVP-FVQ was shown by the good separation index (3.75) and high reliability scores (0.93) for the item parameters. Construct validity was shown with good model fit statistics. Criterion validity of the LVP-FVQ was shown by good discrimination among subjects who answered "seeing much worse" versus "as well as"; "seeing much worse" versus "as well as/a little worse" and "seeing much worse" versus "a little worse," compared with their normal-sighted friends. The task that required the least visual ability was "walking alone in the corridor at school"; the task that required the most was "reading a textbook at arm's length." The estimated person measures of visual ability were linear with logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) acuity and the binocular high contrast distance visual acuity accounted for 32.6% of the variability in the person measure. CONCLUSIONS: The LVP-FVQ is a reliable, valid, and simple questionnaire that can be used to measure functional vision in visually impaired children in developing countries such as India.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

Center of pressure measures to assess standing performance.

Functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) systems have provided individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) varying levels of standing capability. Our long-term goal is to enhance an FNS user's ability to perform activities of daily living by providing sufficient standing stability. However, control of standing posture with complete SCI is compromised by a lack of sensory feedback from receptors in the feet. The goals of this study were: a) to document a variety of center of pressure (COP) measures during standing, b) to compare able-bodied and FNS standing, and c) to relate various measures to overall quality of standing performance. Two subjects with complete SCI that stand with FNS (one with a surface system and one with an implanted stimulation system) and five able-bodied subjects stood quietly on force platforms. Reduced hand support forces were coincident with anterior/posterior (A/P) mean COPs that were further posterior in the base of support and medial/lateral (M/L) mean COPs that were more centered between the feet. In addition, M/L COP excursions, maximum A/P COP velocities, and maximum M/L COP velocities were all significantly greater for FNS users than for able-bodied standers. Furthermore, maximum A/P COP velocities and mean A/P COP frequencies were significantly greater during FNS standing trails that required increased support from the hands. COP measures such as these may be useful tools to assess standing performance and to determine strategies for adjusting posture that can reduce an FNS user's reliance on upper extremity support while maintaining stable balance.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2002

Intensive physical training in geriatric patients after severe falls and hip surgery.

BACKGROUND: Intensive exercise training can lead to improvement in strength and functional performance in older people living at home and nursing home residents. There is little information whether intensive physical exercise may be applicable and effective in elderly patients suffering from the acute sequelae of injurious falls or hip surgery. OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility, safety and efficacy of intensive, progressive physical training in rehabilitation after hip surgery. DESIGN: Prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled intervention study of a 3-months training intervention and a 3-months' follow-up. SETTING: Physical training 6-8 weeks after hip surgery. SUBJECTS: Twenty-eight (15 intervention, 13 control) elderly patients with a history of injurious falls admitted to acute care or inpatient rehabilitation because of acute fall-related hip fracture or elective hip replacement. METHODS: Progressive resistance and functional training to improve strength and functional performance. RESULTS: No training-related medical problems occurred in the study group. Twenty-four patients (86%) completed all assessments during the intervention and follow-up period. Adherence was excellent in both groups (intervention: 93, 0+/-13, 5% versus control: 96, 7+/-6, 2%). Training significantly increased strength, functional motor performance and balance and reduced fall-related behavioural and emotional problems. Some improvements in strength persisted during 3-months follow-up while other strength variables and functional performances were lost after cessation of training. Patients in the control group showed no change in strength, functional performance and emotional state during intervention and follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Progressive resistance training and progressive functional training are safe and effective methods to increase strength and functional performance during rehabilitation in patients after hip surgery and a history of injurious falls. Because part of the training improvements were lost after stopping the training, a continuing training regime should be established.

Accidental Falls↗

PubMed1990

Group sequential designs using a family of type I error probability spending functions.

Performing planned or unplanned interim analyses on accumulating data in clinical trials is a frequent practice. In this paper, we propose a general one-parameter family of type I error probability spending functions to construct customized group sequential boundaries with unequal increments in information time. This proposed family generalized the spending functions of Lan and DeMets1 and Kim and DeMets.2 We give an example to illustrate the use of this family.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗

PubMed1998

Environment effect of functional task performance in adults with acquired brain injuries: use of the assessment of motor and process skills.

OBJECTIVE: To examine household task performance in both familiar (home) and unfamiliar (clinic) environments in adults with acquired brain injuries. DESIGN: The research performed was a comparison study examining the effect of the environment on functional task performance. Individuals were evaluated using the Assessment of Motor and Process Skills both in their homes and in an unfamiliar clinic setting. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty individuals with acquired brain injuries living in the community. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The Assessment of Motor and Process Skills, an observational, standardized, occupational therapy assessment tool, was used to evaluate household task performance. RESULTS: Paired one-tailed t tests indicated a significant difference between home and clinic performance measures in process ability (t=-4.28, p=.00), but no significant difference in motor ability performance measures (t=-1.84, p=.410). Scatter plot analyses showed that performance scores of 6 of the 20 subjects differed in a clinically meaningful way, and that instrumental activities of daily living motor performance scores for 3 of the 20 differed in a clinically meaningful way. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with acquired brain injuries may be influenced by their environment when performing household tasks, although further study is necessary to determine the extent of the environmental effect.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2002

Active range of motion utilized in the cervical spine to perform daily functional tasks.

This was a descriptive study to examine active range of motion required in the cervical spine during functional tasks of daily living. The objective of this study was to determine the mean active range of motion of the cervical spine required to perform 13 daily functional tasks. Previous research has examined the absolute ranges of cervical motion for women and men 20-60 years of age; however, no previous study has determined the amount and type of motion that is required for routine activities of daily living. Twenty-eight college-aged students (n = 28) served as healthy subjects and performed three trials of 13 daily tasks of functional activity. The subject's starting position and end range of motion for flexion-extension, rotation, and side bending of each task were observed and recorded using the cervical range of motion device. The three trials were averaged, and ranges of motion across the 28 subjects were reported. Of the 13 daily functional tasks performed, tying shoes (flexion-extension 66.7 degrees), backing up a car (rotation 67.6 degrees), washing hair in the shower (flexion-extension 42.9 degrees), and crossing the street (rotation head left 31.7 degrees and rotation head right 54.3 degrees) required the greatest full active range of motion of the cervical spine. Flexion-extension and rotation of the cervical spine are important to enable functional activity. Four of the 13 daily tasks performed required 30-50% of active range of motion. Side bending was seen to be coupled with rotation in completion of tasks. This article provides a baseline of normal motion of the neck required for activities of daily living and can be used in the assessment of disease states and disability.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed1994

Assessment of functional vision performance: a new test for low vision patients.

Measures of functional vision are needed to assess elderly low vision patients, their success in using devices, and their ability to manage outside the treatment setting. A new test devised to measure functional ability through the performance of everyday tasks was administered to 94 patients who had acuities of 20/100 or worse in their better eye. Consisting of three versions and four subtests: spot reading, short-term text reading, identifying paper currency and clock reading, the test used standardized items and was timed. In a multiple regression model predicting test performance higher scores were associated with better near acuity (P = .002), higher education (P = .022) and higher levels of self-reported visual skills (P = .072). These predictors plus distance acuity, age and sex only accounted for 35 percent of the variance in test scores. Repeated administration of the test to a different group of 21 patients showed the test to be reliable (intraclass correlation = .85, P < .01) and to have no practice or version effects or differences between raters. This new test may be useful for natural history studies and clinical trials involving low vision patients but further evaluation of its sensitivity to change over time is required.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1982

Lung function and treadmill performance of smoking and nonsmoking males receiving ascorbic acid supplements.

Twelve cigarette smoking and 10 nonsmoking healthy human volunteers, 25 to 38 yr of age, performed lung function and treadmill performance tests over two periods of 3 wk duration while taking either ascorbic acid (300 mg daily) or placebo tablets in a cross-over design. The two exercise periods were separated by a one-month inactive phase. Tablets were administered in a random, double-blind manner. Plasma vitamin C levels were significantly increased after 3 wk of ascorbic acid supplementation in both smokers and nonsmokers as compared to initial levels in the same subjects. No differences between ascorbic acid and placebo treatments of smokers and nonsmokers were observed for 1-s forced expiratory volume, forced vital capacity, 1-s forced expiratory percent, resting heart rate, resting and postexercise systolic and diastolic blood pressures, treadmill workload, postexercise blood lactic acid, and ventilation measurements. The postexercise systolic blood pressure values of the nonsmokers were lower, although not quite significantly, after the ascorbic acid treatment than after the placebo. The 300-mg ascorbic acid supplement appeared to have little effect on the lung function and physical performance of healthy smoking and nonsmoking males.

Ascorbic Acid↗

PubMed2003

Membrane pore size impacts performance of a xenogeneic bioartificial liver.

BACKGROUND: We have developed a novel bioartificial liver (BAL) composed of porcine hepatocyte spheroids in a reservoir design. A semipermeable membrane is used to protect the spheroids from immune-mediated damage. This study was designed to assess the influence of membrane pore size on performance of the spheroid reservoir BAL. METHODS: Eight healthy dogs were studied during primary and secondary exposures to the spheroid reservoir BAL using membranes with small (10 nm) or large (200 nm) pores. BAL performance was assessed by multiple functional assays. Spheroids were examined microscopically before and after all BAL treatments. Titers of xenoreactive antibody were monitored until elective death of animals on day 42. RESULTS: Viability and functional performance of spheroids were significantly greater after all BAL treatments that used membranes with 10-nm versus 200-nm pores. Reduced performance in the 200 nm group was associated with 7.7-fold and 78.0-fold rise in xenoreactive antibody titers after first and second treatments, respectively. Dogs in the 10 nm group remained hemodynamically stable during all BAL treatments, whereas those in the 200 nm group experienced acute hypotension (P<0.001) during second BAL exposures. Microscopic examination of spheroids after BAL treatments indicated that deposition of canine proteins, including complement, was associated with reductions in both viability and functional performance of the BAL. CONCLUSIONS: The elicited immune response of healthy dogs to a xenogeneic BAL was blocked and BAL performance significantly improved by reducing the permeability of the BAL membrane.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

The effects of MK-0677, an oral growth hormone secretagogue, in patients with hip fracture.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of MK-0677, an orally active growth hormone (GH) secretagogue, on functional recovery from hip fracture in previously mobile older individuals. DESIGN: Placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind trial. SETTING: Thirteen medical centers in England, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States. Patients were recruited between 3 and 14 days postoperatively, or no more than 18 days postfracture, at acute care hospitals and rehabilitation centers. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred sixty-one hip-fracture patients were enrolled. Entry criteria included consenting hip-fracture patients who were aged 65 and older and who were ambulatory before their fracture, medically stable postoperatively, and mentally competent. Patients were excluded if they had multiple fractures or severe trauma, diabetes mellitus, cancer, uncontrolled hypertension, congestive heart failure, or total hip replacement in the involved extremity. INTERVENTION: Random assignment to 6 months of daily treatment with MK-0677 or placebo. Patients were followed for an additional 6 months after completion of therapy. MEASUREMENTS: Change from Week 6 to Week 26 in a panel of functional performance measures. Additional outcome measures included change in the Sickness Impact Profile for Nursing Homes (SIP-NH), the ability to live independently, and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels. RESULTS: MK-0677 treatment increased serum IGF-I levels by 84% (95% confidence interval (CI)=63-107), compared with an increase of 17% (95% CI=8-28) on placebo. There were no significant differences between MK-0677 and placebo in improvement in functional performance measures or in the overall SIP-NH score. Although MK-0677 patients showed greater improvement relative to placebo in three of four lower extremity functional performance measures, in the physical domain of the SIP, and in the ability to live independently, these differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Although MK-0677 treatment increased serum IGF-I, it is uncertain whether clinically significant effects on physical function were achieved. Measuring function in clinical trials in hip-fracture patients is difficult because of the lack of validated outcome measures, high variability, and the lack of a baseline assessment. Present functional performance measures may not be sufficiently responsive for use as the primary endpoint of small intervention studies; alternatively, stimulation of GH may not result in significant functional improvement.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2005

The effect of three-dimensional shape optimization on the probabilistic response of a cemented femoral hip prosthesis.

Probabilistic analyses allow the effect of uncertainty in system parameters on predicted model performance measures to be determined. Furthermore, using performance functions to describe a failure event, the probability of failure can be quantified. The effect of three-dimensional prosthesis shape optimization on the probabilistic response and failure probability of a cemented hip prosthesis system is investigated. Random variables include joint and muscle loading, cortical and cancellous bone and PMMA bone cement elastic properties, and strength parameters describing failure of the bone cement and the prosthesis-bone cement interface. Several performance functions describing the bone cement and prosthesis-cement interface are used to compute the probability of failure. When evaluated deterministically, most performance functions indicated a safe design, with the exception of interface tensile failure. However, when evaluated probabilistically, finite probabilities of failure were computed, some significant. The most likely mode of failure before shape optimization was prosthesis-bone cement interface tensile failure with a predicted probability of failure of 97.9%. Deterministic prosthesis shape optimization reduced the probability of failure for all performance functions and reduced prosthesis-bone cement interface tensile failure by 31.7%. Probability sensitivity factors indicate that the uncertainty in the joint loading, cement strength, and implant-cement interface strength have the greatest effect on the computed probability of failure. Implant shape optimization results in a more robust implant design that is less sensitive to uncertainties in joint loading, which cannot be easily controlled, and more sensitive to cement and interface properties, which are easier to modify.

Cementation↗

PubMed2004

Healthy aging: health promotion and disease prevention.

Successful aging includes the ability to perform functional tasks. This ability to perform functional tasks, or functional ability, is influenced by musculoskeletal and cardiovascular functioning and the presence and severity of symptoms of chronic disease. Empirical evidence indicates that musculoskleletal and cardiovascular functioning and symptoms of chronic disease in later life are strongly related to lifestyle choices involving physical activity and nutritional intake. Previous researchers have demonstrated that increases in physical activity and appropriate changes in nutritional intake can be effective interventions to prevent and treat symptoms of chronic disease and improve musculoskeletal and cardiovascular functioning. As a result of this evidence, several organizations have developed physical activity and nutritional intake recommendations aimed at maintaining or increasing the functional ability of older adults. These physical activity recommendations include engaging in cardiorespiratory, flexibility, strength, and balance training 3 to 5 days per week. Broad nutritional recommendations for older adults include a low-fat, plant-based diet including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, 8 glasses of water per day, and a vitamin and mineral supplement.

Activities of Daily Living↗

PubMed2003

Retinal image contrast and functional visual performance with aspheric, silicone, and acrylic intraocular lenses. Prospective evaluation.

PURPOSE: To compare the effects of an aspheric intraocular lens (IOL) (Tecnis Z-9000, Pharmacia Corp.) with those of conventional silicone (AA4207VF, Staar Surgical) and acrylic (AcrySof SA60AT, Alcon Surgical) lenses on retinal imaging and functional visual performance. SETTING: Eye Laser Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA. METHODS: In this prospective study, 221 eyes of 156 patients were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 3 IOLs. Visual acuity was measured preoperatively and 1 day, 1 and 3 weeks, and 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Fundus photography and photopic and mesopic functional acuity contrast testing were performed preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The differences in the preoperative and postoperative spherical and astigmatic refractive errors and best corrected visual acuity among groups were not statistically significant. The postoperative uncorrected visual acuity was best in the aspheric group in the first month. Functional acuity contrast testing showed the aspheric IOL group had a 38% to 47% increase in photopic vision, 38% in photopic with glare, 43% to 100% in mesopic, and 9% to 100% in mesopic with glare. There was no increase in photopic vision in the acrylic group but increases of 38% in photopic with glare, 25% to 50% in mesopic, and 36% to 50% in mesopic with glare. The spherical silicone IOL group had no increase in contrast testing from preoperatively. Digital analysis of retinal imaging showed increased threshold luminance levels in the aspheric group (range 116 to 208 cd/m2) and a 4-fold increase in image contrast. CONCLUSIONS: All 3 IOLs led to improved visual acuity after cataract surgery. The aspheric IOL provided a significant improvement in retinal image contrast and visual performance measured by visual acuity and functional acuity contrast testing. This improvement was greatest in night vision and night vision with glare compared to the performance of conventional spherical silicone and acrylic IOLs.

Acrylates↗