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To determine the utilization rate of a home-based rehabilitation program after an inpatient rehabilitation stay, and to investigate the profile of users. Observational study. Inpatient rehabilitation facility in a tertiary hospital. Older patients (N=1913) discharged home between June 2018 and May 2021, after an inpatient rehabilitation stay. Not applicable. Discharge to home-based rehabilitation. Over the study period, 296 (15.5%) patients were discharged to home-based rehabilitation. Compared with the others, home-based rehabilitation patients were more frequently women (69.6% vs 61.5%; P =.008), and admitted after orthopedic surgery (elective or for fracture) (30.1% vs 16.1%; P <.001). They had worse functional performance at admission (mean Functional Independence Measure self-care score: 27.8±7.3 vs 30.8±6.7; P <.001), but greater gain in self-care during their inpatient stay (5.0±4.8 vs 4.4±4.7; P =.038). In multivariable analysis, being a woman (adjusted odds ratio [adjOR], 1.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01-1.82; P =.040), being admitted after orthopedic surgery (adjOR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.64-3.27; P <.001), being admitted for gait disorders or falls (adjOR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.01-1.88; P =.039), and showing greater gain in mobility during the inpatient stay (adjOR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.07-1.17; P <.001) remained associated with discharge to home-based rehabilitation. In contrast, higher mobility at discharge decreased the odds of discharge to home-based rehabilitation (adjOR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.83-0.91; P <.001). One in 6 patients benefited from home-based rehabilitation after their inpatient stay. Although these patients had poorer functional performance at admission and discharge, they showed greater mobility improvement during their inpatient stay, suggesting that their good recovery potential was a key determinant of their orientation toward home-based rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To comprehensively evaluate the mobility performance of protective gloves, quantitatively analyze the effects caused by protective gloves on hand mobility, and better promote the research and development of protective gloves, relevant studies on the mobility of protective gloves are reviewed. The research on the mobility performance of protective gloves originated in the 1960s, when researchers found that it took longer to complete tasks when working with wool gloves. The influencing factors of the activity performance of protective gloves were summarized from three aspects: protective gloves, human body, and environment. In terms of the influence of protective gloves, the thickness, number of layers, and material of protective gloves are the main factors influencing their activity performance. Specifically, with the increase of glove thickness, the activity performance of the gloves decreased almost linearly; latex gloves had the smallest negative impact on the maximum grip strength, with no significant effect, while aerospace gloves made of rubber had the greatest impact, with a 65% reduction in the maximum grip strength. Furthermore, glove style construction and size are also an influence on dexterity, with ill-fitting gloves reducing hand grip strength. In terms of human influence, the subject’s experience level is an important factor affecting the glove activity performance. For this reason, the experiment requires that the subjects should all have the same experience level. Also, the duration of the hand movement, the rest time between repetitive motions and the body position or posture are all factors that will have an effect on the grip strength measurements. Additionally, torque strength is influenced by differences in the context of a particular task, the specific method of task performance and the nature of the tool handle. In terms of environmental influences, studies have shown that temperature and air pressure in the environment can have an effect on dexterity. From the kinematic level, the method of evaluating the activity performance in terms of the range of motion of fingers and wrists, maneuvering dexterity, and tactile acuity in wearing protective gloves was explored. Kinematic indicators were utilized to describe the laws of hand movement and evaluate the mobility of the hand after people’s wearing gloves. The range of motion of the fingers and wrist refers to the angle at which the fingers and wrist can move freely under the action of the joints. And the test method is divided into static and dynamic tests, in which the static test utilizes an electrical goniometer or a digital camera to record the static interphalangeal angle or the angle of the wrist joint when the finger or wrist reaches the maximum activity state; the dynamic test utilizes the camera to dynamically track the hand’s continuous operation. In addition to recording joint postures, motion coordinates can also be established by video processing software to quantify joint motion angles. The study noted that wearing gloves inhibits the range of motion of the fingers and wrist compared to bare hands. Hand dexterity is a motor skill determined by the range of motion of the arm, palm, and fingers as well as the ability to manipulate the hand and fingers. Hand manipulation dexterity was assessed by using the Bennett Hand Tool Dexterity Test, the Minnesota Hand Dexterity Test, the O’Connor Dexterity Test, the Pennsylvania Two Handed Work Sample Assembly Test, and the Rope Knotting Test, skid steer maneuvering, and many other hand movement simulation tests, most of which use the time or efficiency required to complete the test as a measure of operational dexterity. In fact, wearing gloves can negatively affect tactile acuity. Currently, tactile acuity tests are conducted in the areas of force perception, spatial perception, and shape and texture perception. The evaluation of the kinetic level of protective gloves mainly includes three parts: grip strength, torque, muscle activity and fatigue evaluation. Using kinetic indicators to explain the mechanism of hand movement patterns, the article explored the formation principle of hand activity appearance after people wear gloves from the perspective of force. When conducting grip strength evaluation, most of the studies chose maximal grip strength as the test index, while a few studies also use submaximal grip strength as the evaluation index because many grip strength operations require the participation of submaximal grip strength. Unlike gloves, which can negatively affect grip strength, the effect of gloves on torque is uncertain. The most common operational tasks in evaluating torque include the use of hand tools such as screwdrivers and wrenches, and other types of operational tasks include twisting the throttle of a motorcycle, turning the steering wheel of an automobile, unscrewing a bottle cap, operating a knob, opening a valve, and toggling a round electrical connector. The effect of the glove on torque can vary depending on the action being tested. EMG measurements provide information on internal muscle loading and fatigue with dynamic measurements, in addition to being safe, simple and non-invasive. Finally, it was proposed that a comprehensive evaluation system and evaluation standards for the mobility performance of protective gloves should be established in the future, and the evaluation of the mobility performance of protective gloves should be carried out in virtual reality/augmented reality to simulate real working conditions, reveal the influencing factors of the mobility performance of protective gloves in a comprehensive way and improve the accuracy of the evaluation of the mobility performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of wheelchair tennis players is rising internationally, yet from a scientific perspective little is known about wheelchair tennis performance. Wheelchair tennis is more complex compared to other wheelchair court sports, due to the wheelchair/racket interaction. The purpose of this narrative review was to gain insight into the influence of wheelchair configuration, i.e., the individual set-up of a wheelchair, on wheelchair tennis performance, more specifically on wheelchair mobility performance and propulsion technique. Wheelchair propulsion while holding a racket has had little attention in both the wheelchair mobility performance and wheelchair propulsion technique area. It is shown that the propulsion technique and wheelchair mobility performance are negatively affected by the racket. Based on the current literature, the influence of wheelchair configuration on wheeling performance in wheelchair tennis can mainly be described from a broader wheelchair court sport perspective, due to the lack of specific publications about wheelchair tennis. In the future more research should be conducted on wheeling performance and wheelchair configuration in wheelchair tennis, to attain a more proper scientific foundation for optimising wheelchair tennis performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The association between specific motor capacity variables obtained in a laboratory and parameters of daily-life mobility performance (MP) obtained via wearables is still unclear. The Timed Up-and-Go (TUG) test is a widely used motor capacity tests available either as traditional hand-stopped TUG or as instrumented TUG (iTUG), providing specific information about its subphases. This study aimed to: (1) estimate the association between the TUG and specific parameters reflecting average and maximum daily-life MP, (2) estimate the benefits of the iTUG in terms of explaining MP in daily life compared to the TUG. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional analysis using baseline data of 294 older persons (mean age: 76.7 ± 5.3 years). Univariate linear regression analysis was performed to delineate the coefficient of determination between TUG time and participants' MP. MP variables containing mean cadence (MCA) to represent average performance and the 95th percentile of mean cadence of walks with more than three steps (p95>3stepsMCA) to represent maximum performance. To determine whether the iTUG variables give more information about MP, a stepwise multivariate regression analysis between iTUG variables and the p95>3stepsMCA variable to represent maximum performance was conducted. Results: The univariate regression models revealed associations of the TUG with MCA (adjusted R2 = 0.078, p < 0.001) and p95>3stepsMCA (adjusted R2 = 0.199, p < 0.001). The multivariate stepwise regression models revealed a total explanation of maximum daily-life MP (p95>3stepsMCA) of the TUG (adjusted R2 = 0.199, p < 0.001) versus iTUG (adjusted R2 = 0.278, p < 0.010). Discussion/Conclusion: This study shows that the TUG better reflects maximum daily-life MP than average daily-life MP. Moreover, we demonstrate the added value of the iTUG for a more accurate estimation of daily MP compared to the traditional TUG. The iTUG is recommended to estimate maximum daily-life MP in fall-prone older adults. The study is a step toward a specific assessment paradigm using capacity variables from the iTUG to estimate maximum daily-life MP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: One of the problems of the elderly is a decrease in balance and quality of life of senior citizens. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effect of fatigue on balance, motor function, lower limb strength, and quality of life of the two groups of elderly people at home and in a nursing home. Material & Methods: The present study was conducted based on a prospective quasi-experimental design. For this purpose, 35 elderly women at home and 35 elderly women in nursing homes in Miyaneh were selected via available sampling. To carry out the fatigue protocol, the subjects performed sitting and standing movements with their hands on their chests. Subjects were administered the relevant tests under normal conditions and without fatigue. In the second session, which was held 48 hours later, the subjects performed the fatigue protocol and then performed balance, motor function (TUG), and lower limb strength tests (number of takeoff and landing chairs). The quality of life in both groups was assessed using the Leipad Elderly Quality of Life questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 24) using independent and dependent t-tests. Results: The results demonstrated a significant difference (P=0.001) between the two groups of elderly women in nursing homes and those living at home in terms of motor function, strength, and quality of life. Nonetheless, there was no significant difference (P=0.127) in the balance of the two elderly groups. Discussion & Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of this study, the quality of life of the elderly in nursing homes was lower than that of the elderly at home, and fatigue can exert a more marked effect on the motor function and strength of these people. Therefore, it is recommended to prioritize the design of exercise interventions with the approach of increasing the fatigue threshold to improve the parameters related to the quality of life of the elderly.

Introduction: One of the problems of the elderly is a decrease in balance and quality of life of senior citizens. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effect of fatigue on balance, motor function, lower limb strength, and quality of life of the two groups of elderly people at home and in a nursing home. Material & Methods: The present study was conducted based on a prospective quasiexperimental design. For this purpose, 35 elderly women at home and 35 elderly women in nursing homes in Miyaneh were selected via available sampling. To carry out the fatigue protocol, the subjects performed sitting and standing movements with their hands on their chests. Subjects were administered the relevant tests under normal conditions and without fatigue. In the second session, which was held 48 hours later, the subjects performed the fatigue protocol and then performed balance, motor function (TUG), and lower limb strength tests (number of takeoff and landing chairs). The quality of life in both groups was assessed using the Leipad Elderly Quality of Life questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 24) using independent and dependent t-tests. Results: The results demonstrated a significant difference (P=0.001) between the two groups of elderly women in nursing homes and those living at home in terms of motor function, strength, and quality of life. Nonetheless, there was no significant difference (P=0.127) in the balance of the two elderly groups. Discussion & Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of this study, the quality of life of the elderly in nursing homes was lower than that of the elderly at home, and fatigue can exert a more marked effect on the motor function and strength of these people. Therefore, it is recommended to prioritize the design of exercise interventions with the approach of increasing the fatigue threshold to improve the parameters related to the quality of life of the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although frequency range 2 (FR2) systems are an essential part of 5G-Advanced and future 3GPP releases, the mobility performance of multi-panel user equipment (MPUE) with hand blockage is still an area open for research and standardization. In this article, a comprehensive study on the mobility performance of MPUE with hand blockage is performed for conditional handover (CHO) and its potential enhancement denoted by fast conditional handover (FCHO). In contrast to CHO, in FCHO the MPUE can reuse earlier target cell preparations after each handover to autonomously execute subsequent handovers. This saves both the signaling overhead associated with the reconfiguration and re-preparation of target cells after each handover and reduces mobility failures. Results have shown that FCHO offers considerable mobility performance gains as compared to CHO for different hand blockage cases that are dependent on the hand position around the MPUE. For the worst-case hand blockage scenario, it is seen that mobility failures reduce by 10.5% and 19.3% for the 60 km/h and 120 km/h mobility scenarios, respectively. This gain comes at the expense of reserving the handover resources of an MPUE for a longer time given that the target cell configurations are not necessarily released after each handover. In this article, the longer resource reservation problem in FCHO is analysed and three different resource reservation optimization techniques are introduced. Results have shown that these optimization techniques not only reduce the resource reservation time but also significantly reduce the signaling overhead at the possible expense of a tolerable degradation in mobility performance.

• Dynamic factor characterizes vehicle potential that can be created by powertrain. • Approach adds the conjoint effect of the engine, transmission, and driveline. • Includes power distribution among the wheels caused by driveline configuration. • Design factors assess effects on vehicle performance and power utilization. Vehicle terrain mobility characteristics, provided by the powertrain and running gear, are realized in dynamic interactions between the wheels and terrain. Approaches to modeling and simulation of vehicle-terrain interaction and mobility characteristics as well as engineering approaches to design powertrain sub-systems together pre-determine a vehicle's technical success or failure before it touches the ground. This article develops a vehicle mobility design technique, applicable to both manned and unmanned platforms, concerned with powertrain power conversion and realization in tire-terrain interactions. The modeling component is based on multi-drive-wheel vehicle longitudinal dynamics combined with terramechanics and powertrain characteristics. The approach advances the conventional dynamic factor by introducing the conjoint effect of the engine, transmission, and driveline system on vehicle traction and acceleration performance in terrain conditions where circumferential wheel forces and tire slippages may differ from each other. The vehicle design component of the proposed technique introduces drivetrain, driveline, and powertrain design factors that assess the influence of the drivetrain and driveline systems on traction, acceleration performance, power conversion, and realization at the wheels. The vehicle-design-for-mobility technique is completed by examining indices of mobility margins and performance. An analysis of several 8x8 armored personal carriers and 4x4 off-road vehicles illustrates the proposed technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Right-Turn-On-Red (RTOR) is widely accepted for its contribution to the enhancement of mobility performance at signalized intersections. Thus, actual RTOR volumes should be counted on field and incorporated into calculation methodologies in order to replicate properly the traffic conditions at signalized intersections and reduce the possibility of misestimating performance measures. Multiple scenarios were considered in this study to assess the impact of allowing RTOR on the mobility performance at critical intersections characterized by important traffic and pedestrian demands, uncontrolled driving and pedestrian crossing behaviors and high law violation rates. When allowing and incorporating RTOR into calculations, the Highway Capacity Manual’s methodology for dealing with RTOR underlined an average decrease of 7 % in delay and increase of 0.3 % in capacity. Whereas the gap-acceptance theory adopted by traffic analysis software underlined an average decrease of 21 % in delay and increase of 7 % in capacity. A regression model for the estimation of the RTOR volume at critical intersections was developed. It is expressed as function of the subject right-turn volume, approach volume, proportion of right-turns in shared lane and the effective green-to-cycle ratio. The RTOR volume was noticed to increase as the right-turn volume, approach volume and proportion of right-turn in shared lane increase but to decrease as the green-to-cycle ratio increases. This model is suitable for both exclusive right-turn lanes and shared lanes and can be used in similar conditions when field counts are not available.

To investigate the effect of adding transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to conventional physiotherapy treatment (PT) on pain and performance of individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). Eighty people suffering from chronic KOA participated in this study. They were randomly divided into four treatment groups, including PT combined with tDCS over the primary motor cortex (M1), PT combined with tDCS over the primary sensory cortex (S1), PT combined with tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), and PT combined with sham tDCS. A visual analog scale (VAS) for pain intensity, the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire for knee-related disability, and several performance tests (stepping 15 s, chair stand test in 30 s, and walking 4 × 10 m) were used for assessment following 10 sessions of tDCS (T1), and one month after the last session of tDCS (T2). Differential effects on pain intensity, knee-related disability, and performance were found between groups. Compared to sham tDCS: (i) tDCS over M1 improved VAS pain score, KOOS disability score, and performance tests at T1 and T2; (ii) tDCS over S1 improved VAS pain score at T1 and T2 and KOOS disability score and performance tests at T2; (iii) tDCS over the DLPFC improved VAS pain score at T1 and performance tests at T1 and T2. tDCS could be a beneficial add-on treatment to conventional PT for pain relief, disability reduction and functional improvement in patients with KOA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Concern about falling is a prevalent worry among community-dwelling older adults and may contribute to a decline in physical and mental health. This study aimed to examine the association between mobility performance and concern about falling. Methods: Older adults aged 65 years and older, with Mini-Mental State Examination score ≥24, and ambulatory (with or without the assistive device) were included. Concern about falling was evaluated with Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) scores. Participants with high concern about falling were identified using the cutoff of FES-I ≥23. Participants' motor capacity was assessed in standardized walking tests under single- and dual-task conditions. Participants' mobility performance was measured based on a 48-h trunk accelerometry signal from a wearable pendant sensor. Results: No significant differences were observed at participant characteristics across groups with different levels of concern about falling (low: N = 64, age = 76.3 ± 7.2 years, female = 46%; high: N = 59, age = 79.3 ± 9.1 years, female = 47%), after propensity matching with BMI, age, depression, and cognition. With adjustment of motor capacity (stride velocity and stride length under single- and dual-task walking conditions), participants with high concern about falling had significantly poorer mobility performance than those with low concern about falling, including lower walking quantity (walking bouts, steps and time per day, and walking bout average, walking bout variability, and longest walking bout, p ≤ 0.013), and poorer daily-life gait (stride velocity and gait variability, p ≤ 0.023), and poorer walking quality (frontal gait symmetry, and trunk acceleration and velocity intensity, p ≤ 0.041). The selected mobility performance metrics (daily steps and frontal gait symmetry) could significantly contribute to identifying older adults with high concern about falling (p ≤ 0.042), having better model performance (p = 0.036) than only walking quantity (daily steps) with adjustment of confounding effects from the motor capacity (stride length under dual-task walking condition). Conclusion: There is an association between mobility performance and concern about falling in older adults. Mobility performance metrics can serve as predictors to identify older adults with high concern about falling, potentially providing digital biomarkers for clinicians to remotely track older adults' change of concern about falling via applications of remote patient monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is increasing demand for continued development in personal mobility vehicles, because many people want to use them to improve their life. For example, wheelchair users, including people with disabilities, need powered wheelchairs for their daily activities, and elderly people expect to use mobile platforms for better quality of life. There are two main research targets for these types of vehicles: more intelligence and higher mobility performance. This paper discusses the latter topic. The vehicle proposed in this paper has high mobility performance on rough terrain; notably, it has the capability of traversing steps obliquely, even though conventional vehicles are supposed to move on steps only from the very front of the steps, not obliquely. Its performance for climbing up/down steps is evaluated in this paper, which is an evaluation for climbing up steps that consists of seven patterns of approach angles to the step for one step and two steps. Tests for climbing down steps were also conducted. Through those tests, the ability of our vehicle to traverse steps obliquely was confirmed.

Wearable inertial sensors can be used to monitor mobility in real-world settings over extended periods. Although these technologies are widely used in human movement research, they have not yet been qualified by drug regulatory agencies for their use in regulatory drug trials. This is because the first generation of these sensors was unreliable when used on slow-walking subjects. However, intense research in this area is now offering a new generation of algorithms to quantify Digital Mobility Outcomes so accurate they may be considered as biomarkers in regulatory drug trials. This perspective paper summarises the work in the Mobilise-D consortium around the regulatory qualification of the use of wearable sensors to quantify real-world mobility performance in patients affected by Parkinson’s Disease. The paper describes the qualification strategy and both the technical and clinical validation plans, which have recently received highly supportive qualification advice from the European Medicines Agency. The scope is to provide detailed guidance for the preparation of similar qualification submissions to broaden the use of real-world mobility assessment in regulatory drug trials.

We have developed a personal mobility vehicle (PMV) with four driven wheels that is capable of negotiating obstacles with a leg motion mechanism. When obstacles are encountered, wheels are lifted, moved ahead in a stepping-like motion, and lowered back down, thereby allowing the PMV to advance further. In our previous paper, we discussed the principle of the gait algorithm used by our PMV, in which wheels are utilized as legs to negotiate obstacles. In the original algorithm, when the wheels encountered terrain that might require leg motion to traverse, the system determined whether such motion was applicable and, if it was, orchestrated a series of leg motions. However, there were terrains that could not be negotiated using the original algorithm. In this paper, we propose an improved gait algorithm, in which when the vehicle encounters terrain intractable by leg motion with its current posture, the vehicle changes its posture until it can traverse that terrain. We verified the effectiveness of the improved gait algorithm through a variety of mobility tests with a passenger. In addition, we present numerical data on the range of terrain topologies that could be negotiated by the proposed algorithm.

Background Previous studies indicate that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with anode over motor cortex (M1) and cathode over contralateral supraorbital region (SO) may be effective in reducing pain, but these studies are limited in number and have not focused on older adults with osteoarthritis (OA). Objective To evaluate the preliminary efficacy and safety of M1-SO applied tDCS on clinical pain severity and mobility performance in adults with knee OA pain. Methods Forty 50- to 70-year-old community-dwelling participants with knee OA were randomly assigned to receive five daily sessions of 2 mA tDCS for 20 min (n = 20) or sham tDCS (n = 20). We measured clinical pain severity via Numeric Rating Scale, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. In addition, we measured mobility performance using the 6-Minute Walk Test and the Short Physical Performance Battery. Moreover, we obtained a sensation/safety questionnaire and measured cognition changes using the PROMIS-Applied Cognition-Abilities-Short Form 8a. Results Active tDCS over M1-SO significantly reduced Numeric Rating Scale of pain compared to sham tDCS after completion of the five daily sessions, and remained up to three weeks. No other measures were significantly different from sham. Participants tolerated tDCS over M1-SO well without serious adverse effects or cognition changes. Conclusion Although not consistent in all pain measurements, our findings demonstrate promising clinical efficacy for reduction in pain perception for older adults with knee OA. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02512393 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooperative transmission is an effective approach for vehicular communications to improve wireless transmission capacity and reliability in fifth-generation (5G) small-cell networks. Based on distances between the vehicle and cooperative small-cell base stations (BSs), the cooperative probability and the coverage probability have been derived for 5G cooperative small-cell networks where small-cell BSs follow Poisson point process distributions. Furthermore, the vehicular handoff rate and the vehicular overhead ratio have been proposed to evaluate the vehicular mobility performance in 5G cooperative small-cell networks. To balance the vehicular communication capacity and the vehicular handoff ratio, an optimal vehicular overhead ratio can be achieved by adjusting the cooperative threshold of 5G cooperative small-cell networks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of the current investigation was to explore the lateral stiffness of different sports wheelchair wheels available to athletes in ‘new’ and ‘used’ conditions and to determine the effect of (a) stiffness, (b) tyre type (clincher vs. tubular) and (c) tyre orientation on the physiological and biomechanical responses to submaximal and maximal effort propulsion specific to wheelchair basketball. Eight able-bodied individuals participated in the laboratory-based testing, which took place on a wheelchair ergometer at two fixed speeds (1.1 and 2.2 m s −1 ). Outcome measures were power output and physiological demand (oxygen uptake and heart rate). Three participants with experience of over-ground sports wheelchair propulsion also performed 2 × 20 m sprints in each wheel configuration. Results revealed that wheels differed significantly in lateral stiffness with the ‘new’ Spinergy wheel shown to be the stiffest (678.2 ± 102.1 N mm −1 ). However the effects of stiffness on physiological demand were minimal compared to tyre type whereby tubular tyres significantly reduced the rolling resistance and power output in relation to clincher tyres. Therefore tyre type (and subsequently inflation pressure) remains the most important aspect of wheel specification for athletes to consider and monitor when configuring a sports wheelchair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the relationship between dietary diversity and healthy aging (in terms of mobility performance, physical functions, cognitive functions, and depressive symptoms) among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults by using a nationally representative population-based cohort study. Data from 3213 study participants in the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA) were retrieved for analysis, and all participants were divided into five groups according to the quintile of dietary variety scores (DVSs). In the 4-year follow-up study, multivariate logistic regression models were applied to investigate the associations between DVS subgroups and declines in mobility performance, physical function (activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs)), cognitive function and depressive symptoms. In this study, the DVS quintile identified people who were significantly vulnerable in diet quality. Among those in the lowest DVS quintile, the proportions consuming seafood, eggs, and beans/legumes per week were 0.3 %, 7.8 % and 12.6 %, respectively, while among those in the highest DVS quintile, the proportions were 40.2 %, 83.1 %, and 82.7 %, respectively. "Inverse" dose–response associations were observed between the DVS and the risks of decline in mobility performance, physical function (ADLs and IADLs), cognitive function, and depressive symptoms. These risks decreased with the higher DVS quintile group as compared to the lowest DVS quintile group. Even after adjustments for demographics, health behaviors (e.g., physical activity) and comorbidities, participants in the highest DVS quintile group were still associated with the lowest risk of decline in ADLs (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.59 [95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.37–0.94], p < 0.05) and IADLs (aOR 0.53 [0.39–0.73], p < 0.01). However, no such association was observed in the risk of worsened mobility performance, cognitive function and depressive symptoms. In conclusion, higher dietary diversity has protective effects in declines in multidimensional outcomes associated with healthy aging, particularly physical functions (ADL and IADL), among community-dwelling middle-aged and older adults. Intervention studies are needed to confirm the causal relationships between dietary diversity and healthy aging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An individual's functional vision may be measured via visual assessment and performance on mobility tasks. Since traditional mobility performance tests neglect to examine the effects of illumination on performance, the multi-luminance mobility test (MLMT) was designed to quantitatively assess the effects of illumination levels on an individual's mobility performance. In this chapter, we describe how the MLMT is conducted and scored in order to properly evaluate a participant's mobility under various light conditions., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Purpose: To develop a suitable mobility course for the assessment of mobility performance as part of a user evaluation of Electronic Mobility Aids (EMA) aimed at obstacle detection and orientation. Method: A review of the literature led to a list of critical factors for the assessment of mobility performance of persons who are visually impaired. Based upon that list, method, test situations, and determining elements were selected and presented to Dutch orientation and mobility experts. Due to expert advice and a pilot study, minor changes were made and the final version was used for the evaluation of two EMA by eight persons who are visually impaired. Results: The results of the literature study are summarized in an overview of critical factors for the assessment of the mobility performance of persons who are visually impaired. Applied to the requirements of the above mentioned user evaluation a replicable indoor mobility course has been described in detail and tested. Conclusion: Based upon evidence from literature an indoor mobility course has been developed, which was sensitive to assess differences in mobility incidents and obstacle detection when using an EMA compared to the regular mobility aid. Experts' opinion confirmed its face and content validity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We investigated the mobility performance of legally blind patients with age-related maculopathy (ARM) as assessed by their ability to visually detect hazards in their travel path. The three types of hazards were: drop-offs (a curb), obstacle on the travel surface (a small wastebasket), and a head-height obstacle (a piece of foam insulation projecting across the travel path at head height). We also recorded the patient's logMAR visual acuity and Pelli-Robson contrast sensitivity. Three distinct daylight assessments were made in a naturalistic outdoor environment: an initial assessment of distance to visually detect each of the three types of hazards; an assessment designed to assess the subject's maximum potential visual detection distance: and a final assessment following training and fitting with filters to reduce glare to determine the increase, if any, in visual detection distance for the three types of hazards. The inter-rater and test/retest reliabilities of the assessment procedure were studied. The results indicated that many ARM patients are unable to visually detect some hazards at a safe distance, that their ability to improve can be predicted from the assessment, and that most subjects can improve their ability to visually detect obstacles if provided appropriate training and filters. The limitations of this study and their implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: exergaming-based interventions (EbIs) have been proposed to improve older adults' mobility and balance performance. However, the effectiveness of such interventions for older adults with Parkinson's disease (OAPD) remains unclear., Methods: seven databases (Web of Science, Medline, Academic Search Premier, CINAHL Complete, PsycINFO, PsychARTICLE and PubMed) were searched up to 7 April 2022. We assessed mobility and balance performance between EbIs groups and control groups or traditional physical training interventions (TPTIs) groups by comparing the outcomes of the Timed Up and Go (TUG), 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), gait velocity, stride length and Functional Gait Assessment (FGA)., Results: we scanned 1,190 articles and meta-analysed 19 trials (sample size = 781). In general, the results revealed statistical differences between EbIs groups and TPTIs groups in the TUG [mean difference (MD) = -1.030 s; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -2.029 to -0.031; P = 0.043; high quality of evidence], 6MWT (MD = 63.483 m; 95% CI = 9.542 to 117.425; P = 0.021; moderate quality of evidence), BBS (MD = 2.129; 95% CI = -1.293 to 2.965; P < 0.001; high quality of evidence) and FGA (MD = 2.099 95% CI = -0.306 to 3.893; P = 0.022; moderate quality of evidence). No significant difference was discovered between EbIs groups and TPTIs groups in enhancing gait velocity and stride length., Conclusions: EbIs are statistically better than TPTIs in improving OAPD's performance in TUG, 6MWT, BBS and FGA, whereas only the change between EbIs and TPTIs in 6MWT can reach the value of minimal clinically important difference. Further studies are needed to better assess the effectiveness of exergaming-based interventions., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Wearable inertial sensors can be used to monitor mobility in real-world settings over extended periods. Although these technologies are widely used in human movement research, they have not yet been qualified by drug regulatory agencies for their use in regulatory drug trials. This is because the first generation of these sensors was unreliable when used on slow-walking subjects. However, intense research in this area is now offering a new generation of algorithms to quantify Digital Mobility Outcomes so accurate they may be considered as biomarkers in regulatory drug trials. This perspective paper summarises the work in the Mobilise-D consortium around the regulatory qualification of the use of wearable sensors to quantify real-world mobility performance in patients affected by Parkinson's Disease. The paper describes the qualification strategy and both the technical and clinical validation plans, which have recently received highly supportive qualification advice from the European Medicines Agency. The scope is to provide detailed guidance for the preparation of similar qualification submissions to broaden the use of real-world mobility assessment in regulatory drug trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]