Older people home’s and mobility
Research Benefits for the Ageing
Population
Dissemination Conference for European
Research Results
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
Introduction
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Falls in the elderly are a major health
problem since 1 in 3 people over 65 years of
age falls at least once a year and a fracture
is the result in 5% of falls
Training is particularly important but is not
always straightforward
Social psychological issues are at stake
Mobility of the elderly is paramount to
quality of life
Adaptation of the home and of appliances is
frequently neglected
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
Introduction
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
BETTER AGEING
Physical frailty and loss of functional
independence in old age: determinants
and adaptations to physical activity
QLK6-CT-2001-00323
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
BETTER-AGEING
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Providing knowledge:
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regarding the determinants of frailty in the
elderly across European countries
the impact of exercise training upon components
of health related fitness (i.e. increased
flexibility, strength, cardiovascular fitness and
mobility).
These components are specifically related to
autonomy, independence, risk of falls,
ability to complete activities of daily living,
risk of hypokinetic disease, and health
related quality of life.
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
BETTER-AGEING
Physical activity based on aerobic,
concentric/eccentric strength and
proprioceptive exercises performed at
least twice per week, proves effective
in reversing/mitigating most these
age-related changes, resulting in improved muscle quantity,
quality and functional performance.
! The muscle stretch
caused by eccentric
exercises provides
an important stimulus for
restoring muscle
mass and fibre fascicle
length.
! It is recommended
that future training
programmes designed
for older individuals
should implement
eccentric loading in their
protocol including,
also, aerobic and
proprioceptive exercises.
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
ADOQ
Advanced Detection of Bone Quality
QLK6-CT-2002-02363
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
ADOQ
Besides bone density, bone architecture
and bone quality are significant factors to
assess the fracture risks and the evolution
of osteoporosis.
The objective is to demonstrate
the benefit of measurements
based on the 3D peripheral
Quantitative Computed Tomography
(3DpQCT) technique linked to finite
element analysis compared to the other
methods in the evaluation of bone quality.
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
ADOQ
!A
public health issue (WHO figures for
the European Union, 2001):
"A
fracture every 30 seconds
" 20 to 30% of postmenopausal women,
" 50 % of women over 60 years old and 13%
of men over 50 years old
" Second most important public health
problem for women after breast cancer.
" Induced hospital costs estimated to 23
Billion Euros.
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
ADOQ
! Several
series of clinical experiments
in different populations aimed at
better understanding
bone quality.
! One clinical trial to
be performed in astronauts
to study effects of low gravity and low
exercise levels on bone quality.
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
ADOQ
Project is still ongoing and we are
eagerly waiting for the most
interesting results, which may give
further insight in respect to the
possible relations between muscle
ageing and astronaut's muscle weaning.
http://www.medes.fr/home_fr/applications_sante/osteoporose/adoq.html
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
EUROKINESIS
Oculomotor* function and self-motion
perception in the elderly
*Eye movement
QLK6-CT-2002-00151
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
EUROKINESIS
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Many falls are caused by tripping over obstacles
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Obstacle avoidance (OA) skills deteriorate with
advancing age (abstract Duysens et al.)
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Multi-disciplinary approach to elucidate the
neuronal, cognitive, behavioural and rehabilitation
factors that may lead to improvement in individual
mobility, i.e., obstacle and fall avoidance during
locomotion (walking, running, etc.), and during
mobility by transportation means (e.g., driving,
bicycling).
et al., 1997)
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
(Berg
EUROKINESIS
One of the most interesting practical
results: training can be effective in
changing the kinematics of a fall. The
Nijmegen Fall Prevention Program
resulted in a clinically meaningful,
i.e., 46% reduction in the number of
falls, already obtained after only a 5week training period.
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
EUROKINESIS
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
EUROKINESIS
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
EUROKINESIS
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Another practical and high impact result
was the Neurovegetative Simulator
Sickness Predictor Program : In driving
simulation experiments, neurovegetative
parameters were collected to arrive at
objectives measures to assess simulator
sickness.
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Changes in skin resistance and skin
temperature indicate onset of motion
sickness before the actual physical
manifestations.
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB
Helsinki, Sept 14
CvB