physical activity

Background: Poor physical function and quality of life are ubiquitous post-stroke. Effective interventions to improve physical function and quality of life for stroke survivors are critically needed.

Objective: Examine the effect of a Tai Chi (TC) intervention on physical function and quality of life.

Background: Stroke survivors fall up to seven times more annually than healthy adults of a similar age. The inability to recover balance from slipping, tripping, or rapid ambulation accounts for the majority of falls, while balance control can prevent falls. An examination of the triggers for falls and balance recovery strategies for near falls is crucial for fall prevention in stroke survivors.

Purpose: To examine the self-reported triggers for falls and balance recovery strategies for near falls among community-dwelling stroke survivors.

Background: Gait velocity is an objective, fundamental indicator of post-stroke walking ability. Most stroke survivors have diminished aerobic endurance and paretic leg strength, with one or both of these conditions affecting their gait velocity. Other reported underlying factors affecting gait velocity include functional disability, balance and cognitive impairment.

Objective: To examine potential independent predictors of gait velocity in chronic stroke.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation improves physical, cognitive and psychosocial functioning, yet services are greatly underutilized with increasing patterns of attrition over time. Tai Chi has been suggested as a possible adjunct to cardiac rehabilitation exercise training.

Aim: To describe differences in physical, cognitive and psychosocial functioning among adults ≥ 45 years old attending phase III cardiac rehabilitation, who have or have not self-selected Tai Chi exercise as an adjunct physical activity.

Purpose of the Study: Assisted living (AL) residents with dementia require assistance with activities of daily living, encounter limited opportunities to engage in physical activity, and often exhibit challenging behavioral symptoms. The Function Focused Care Intervention for the Cognitively Impaired (FFC-CI) teaches and motivates direct care workers (DCWs) to engage residents with dementia in activities that optimize function and activity while minimizing behavioral symptoms.

Many underserved school-age children do not meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity. While children ultimately depend on parents, they also look to schools for their access to developmentally appropriate physical activity.

Engaging in regular physical activity is widely accepted as an effective preventative measure for a variety of obesity-related chronic diseases including diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Disparities exist where racial/ethnic minority and low-income children do not meet these recommendations. Rather, they are spending the majority of their leisure time engaging in sedentary activities (e.g. using the computer, playing video games or watching television). The school years are known to be a key stage in the life course for shaping attitudes and behaviors.