Background: Physical activity (PA) is a health protective behaviour that is critical in the reduction of most major chronic diseases. It also provides the participant with psychological benefits. Despite its well-established health benefits, PA engagement is low in the adult population. Women over the age of 60 are the least physically active segment and thus an important target for behaviour change interventions. Objective: The purpose of this mixed methods feasibility study was to explore the feasibility of six-week Self-Determination Theory (SDT)-based dance and walking programs for older women. Design: This was a parallel, randomized controlled trial with three groups: dance, walking, and wait-list control. This study included the sequential collection of quantitative then qualitative data (sequential explanatory design). Setting: This study was conducted in Victoria, BC. Participants: Participants were community-dwelling, English-speaking women aged 55-70 years who were not meeting PA guidelines. Methods: Data were collected at baseline and two endpoints: post-intervention at six weeks and follow-up at 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were feasibility measures: recruitment, intervention adherence, retention, and satisfaction. Survey data included self-reported PA (Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire) and measures of behavioural regulations and psychological needs (SDT constructs) using validated tools (Behavioural Regulations in Exercise Questionnaire-2 and Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise Scale). Qualitative data were collected in the form of open- and close-ended program evaluation questions and during focus group interviews, both occurring at post-intervention (six weeks). Results: The feasibility measures suggest that it is feasible to recruit and retain participants and that they were generally satisfied with the programs. Thirty-five of 37 randomized participants completed the study (mean age ± SD = 62.8 ± 4.8), representing a 39% recruitment rate and 95% retention rate. Both programs were highly attended. Exploratory effect sizes for the quantitative measures were promising for conducting a larger-scale trial. Emergent themes highlighted the importance of the leadership component of the group-based PA programs. Conclusion: This study had high protocol adherence, promising effect sizes, program evaluation satisfaction, and a recreation centre took on the dance program; these factors provide a foundation for expanding this feasibility trial to a full-scale study. / Graduate / 2017-12-01

For those who have suffered a stroke, damage to the brain can result in a decreased ability to walk. The traditional therapy used for the recovery of walking, body weight supported treadmill training, has significant labour requirements that limit the availability of training to the larger stroke population. Thus, the conception and application of new, effective, and efficient rehabilitation therapies is required. To approach this, an understating of the intricate neural control behind walking is needed to form the principled foundation upon which locomotor therapies are based. Due to observations that the arms and legs are connected in the nervous system during walking, and that nervous system control is the same across rhythmic tasks, arm and leg (A&L) cycling training could provide an effective means of locomotor rehabilitation. Thus, the goal of this dissertation is focused upon exploring central nervous system control and interlimb coordination during rhythmic arm and leg movement and testing the extent to which A&L cycling training improves walking after stroke. The first objective of this dissertation was to provide further evidence of central nervous system control of walking. Through a literature review in Chapter 1 and experimental evidence in Chapter 2 of common subcortical control across rhythmic locomotor tasks, evidence for the existence of central pattern generating networks in humans is given. The second objective was to explore interlimb coordination during rhythmic movement. Results presented in Chapters 3 and 4 further our understanding of specific interlimb interactions during rhythmic arm and leg tasks. The third objective was to evaluate the effects of an A&L cycling training intervention in a post-stroke population. To support this objective, it was shown in Chapter 5 that a multiple baseline design is appropriate for use in intervention studies. In Chapter 6, it was determined that A&L cycling training can be used to improve walking ability. And in Chapter 7, it was shown that training induced plasticity in interlimb reflex pathways. Overall, results in this dissertation provide further knowledge on nervous system control and arm and leg interlimb interactions during rhythmic movements and their effect on locomotor recovery following a stroke. / Graduate / 2017-10-31

This thesis is located within the discourse of pedestrian performance, an area of research which has emerged from a recent proliferation of site-based works that are concerned with walking as an aesthetic and performative practice. However, my research seeks to expand the field beyond studies of site-based performances. Through placing emphasis on the action of walking itself within performance, I argue that pedestrian performance is an umbrella term for a host of performances that utilise walking. Beginning at the turn of the twentieth century, I present a mapped journey of pedestrian performance, with each chapter in my thesis acting as a waymarker. Each waymarker is shaped by a distinctive spatial arrangement, plotting a journey from the theatre to the site. Although there is a sense of chronology in this journey, its structure lies principally in the subtle shifting of the spatial arrangement of the performer and audience. The first waymarker is that of the theatre, where I examine the manner in which the journey has been staged and the kinesthetic empathy of a seated audience. I then move to the overlooked staging of promenade performance, exploring the varying tensions incurred by putting an audience on their feet. From here I investigate the familiar territory of site and how walking allows us to distinguish between site-specific and situation-specific performances. Finally I address the non-site, illustrating how this theory of land artist Robert Smithson, can enhance our understanding of a recent wave of pedestrian performances which involve journeys to sites that cannot be reached. I close this thesis by presenting a more cohesive illustration of pedestrian performance, illustrating its varying incarnations within an expanded field. Such an expansion of the landscape allows the pedestrian performance scholar to discern between the different ways in which walking and the journey motif has been utilised in performance. Furthermore, it also reveals a legacy of this mode of performance which predates its popularity in site-based works, enabling a dialogue to occur between scholars of both theatre and performance studies.

Intervention into the public space / hoax -  Forged tourist signs in the  fields (obora = game preserve/park) Holedná(Brno Jundrov - Bystrc). Against standard practices, the trail is marked off any existing paths, through fences, signs are extremely frequent Work bordering with political art. The trail was handed over to  Mayor Onderka at the occassion of his birthday.

The theoretical part focuses on vestibular system - the formation and role of vestibular information in the control of bipedal locomotion, and processes issues of gait control with respect to walking speed and the use of sensory feedback. The experimental part deals with the effect of rotational stimulation of labyrinth on the ability to maintain straight walking direction with the exclusion of visual control at various speeds - slow walking, fast walking and running. Two groups were tested - younger group aged 21 - 30 years (29 people) and older group aged 41 - 55 years (15 people). The difference between deviations from a straight direction before stimulation (with the exclusion of visual control) and after stimulation appeared to be significant (p < 0.05) for slow walking, fast walking and running, but only in the younger group. In the younger group there was also a statistically significant difference between deviation for slow walking after rotational stimulation and deviations for fast walking and running after stimulation. In the older group there were statistically insignificant differences between deviations before and after stimulation and between various speeds. Younger and older group differed statistically significantly in response to rotational stimulation at slow walking. The results...

A growing consensus among planners and policy-makers is that the automobile-oriented city, one that dominates the American landscape, is no longer sustainable. Such concerns demand a search for ways to promote alternative forms of travel. To this end, this study employs a multiple linear regression analysis in order to determine the relationships between the share of public transit and walking/bicycle commuting and variables representing three categories: urban form measures, socio-demographic and household characteristics, and the presence of a transit-oriented development. These relationships were examined in thirteen metropolitan regions.

Introduction With an increasing knowledge of the health benefits from physical activity (PA) the interest in objectively measuring PA in free living environment has increased. ActiGraph is the most commonly used accelerometer to objectively measure PA, while ActivPAL is considered gold standard when it comes to measuring sedentary behavior. Aims The aim of this study was to investigate if ActivPAL could be used to measure Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) instead of ActiGraph. Methods Data from 79 overweight office workers carrying the ActivPAL and ActiGraph device simultaneously were analyzed. All activities with a cadence of 90 steps per minute (spm) or more lasting for at least 30 seconds from one day from ActivPAL data was extracted and compared to the corresponding activity from ActiGraph. An activity was classified as MVPA by using the cut points of 100 spm for ActivPAL and 3208 activity-counts per minute (cpm) for ActiGraph using vector magnitude (VM). Results A correlation of r=0.326 (p&lt;0.001) was seen between ActiGraph and ActivPAL with a Cohen’s kappa of K=0.14, a percentage agreement of 60.7%, a sensitivity of 61.5% with ActiGraph as denominator and a positive predictive value (PPV) of 84.3% for ActivPAL. Neither age nor BMI affected the association between the estimates by these devices. There was no correlation for time spent in MVPA between devices. Conclusion Cadence from ActivPAL cannot replace ActiGraph to measure MVPA in a free living environment in overweight adults.

Thesis. 1978. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING. / Bibliography: leaves 126-135. / Ph.D.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 1982. / MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND ENGINEERING / Includes bibliographical references. / by Ronny N. Galloway. / M.S.

O sistema visual tem papel fundamental no controle de estabilidade da marcha. Pessoas com problemas visuais apresentam características de instabilidade ao andar. Apesar do número de indivíduos com visão prejudicada ser cada vez menor, pode-se observar essas mesmas características durante a caminhada em privação da visão ou em ambientes com baixa luminosidade. Aparentemente adultos dependem menos da visão que outros grupos para caminhar, sugerindo que possam ter estabilidade mesmo em menores níveis de luz. Assim, não fica claro quanto adultos dependem do sistema visual. Portanto, o objetivo do estudo foi analisar a estabilidade da marcha de adultos com visão saudável em diferentes condições visuais. O controle de luminosidade ambiente, no entanto, é difícil de ser feito. Então, as diferentes condições de visão foram manipuladas através do uso de máscaras com películas diminuindo a passagem de luz até o olho. Primeiramente, os efeitos das condições visuais foram analisados separadamente nos parâmetros de estabilidade e espaço temporais. Logo após, o efeito de duas velocidades de caminhada e a sua interação com as diferentes condições de visão foram verificados. 37 adultos com visão saudável participaram do estudo. Os participantes caminharam aleatoriamente em quatro condições visuais: visão total e com escurecimento da visão usando máscaras envolvidas por película automotiva 50%, 20% e 5% (mais escuro), cada percentual representando o nível de luz passando pela película até o olho. A caminhada foi realizada em duas velocidades: autosselecionada e 30% mais rápida. Sete câmeras de infravermelho capturaram os parâmetros de estabilidade (avaliada através dos deslocamentos do centro de massa em relação à base de suporte) e espaço temporais (comprimento de passo, velocidade da marcha, tempos de apoio). O nível de significância para todos os testes foi de α = 0,05. Os parâmetros de estabilidade e espaço temporais da marcha não mudaram entre condições visuais nas duas velocidades de caminhada, sem efeito de interação entre os fatores. Apenas a cinemática do tronco apresentou diferença nas piores condições visuais (posição mais posterior), adotando um padrão mais cuidadoso durante a caminhada. As ausências de mudanças nas variáveis espaço temporais podem justificar a manutenção dos níveis de estabilidade. Em conclusão, os resultados sugerem que adultos controlam a estabilidade e os padrões da marcha mesmo em menores níveis de luz. / The visual system plays a fundamental role in gait stability control. People with visual impairment show some gait instability characteristics. Although the number of individuals with visual problems is decreasing, it is possible to see the same characteristics during walking in visual deprivation or in environments with low luminosity. Apparently, adults seem to be less visual dependent than other groups to walk, suggesting that they can have stability even in low light levels. Thus, it is not clear of how much adults depend of the visual system. Therefore, the objective of this study is to analyze the gait stability of adults with normal vision in different visual conditions. However, the control of ambient light level is difficult to be done. Then, the different visual conditions were manipulated by using masks with automotive films that decrease the light passage until the eye. First, only the effect of the different visual conditions on stability and spatiotemporal parameters was analyzed. After that, the effect of two walking velocities and its interaction with the different visual conditions was tested. 37 adults without any visual problems participated of the study. All participants walked randomly in four visual conditions: total vision and darkened vision using masks involved by automotive films of 50%, 20% and 5% (lower light level), with each percentage representing the light level passing through the film until the eye. Participants walked at two gait speeds: self-selected and 130% of self-selected walking speed. Seven infrared cameras were used to capture the gait stability (quantified by the center of mass displacements relative to the base of support) and the spatiotemporal parameters (step length, gait speed and stance times). The level of significance adopted for all the tests was α = 0,05. The spatiotemporal and the gait stability parameters did not change between visual conditions at both walking speeds, with no interaction effect between the two factors. Only the trunk kinematics showed differences in the worst visual conditions (more backward position), adopting a more cautious pattern during walking. The absence of changes in spatiotemporal parameters can justify the maintenance in stability variables. In conclusion, these results suggest that adults control the gait stability even in low light levels.