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Rapid demographic aging in countries around the world has prompted an interest in understanding the mobility patterns of seniors. While much research has been conducted in terms of motorized modes, the promotion of healthy aging argues for new research to investigate the multi-modal travel behavior of seniors including active travel. It is generally agreed that walking is a convenient, safe, and adequate activity for all ages and particularly for seniors, because it places the right amount of stress on their joints. It also is an inexpensive mode of transportation under a wide range of circumstances and can help achieve physical activity guidelines without imposing additional time demands. The objectives of this dissertation are fourfold. The first two objectives investigate the factors that influence use, length, frequency of two motorized (transit and car) and one active mode of transportation (walking) of seniors. The third objective is to introduce a concept of Compliance Potential Mapping (CPM) that produces maps to show spatial variation in percentage of physical activity requirements seniors obtain from their regular walking for transport. Finally, the dissertation implements a street segment sampling approach and investigates the attributes of walkable environments from the perspective of seniors. A joint discrete-continuous modeling framework was used to model mode use and trip length simultaneously and, on the other hand, a trivariate ordered probit model was used for estimating the multi-modal trip generation of seniors. CPM concept used simple map algebra operations on maps of spatial variations in trip length and frequency in order to produce potential maps of physical activity compliance. Lastly, the street sampling approach used multinomial spatial scan statistic to detect cluster of street segments where walkability audits can be conducted. Data were drawn from Montreal’s Household Travel Survey of 2008. A broad array of covariates related to personal, mobility tools (possession of driver’s licence and automobile), neighborhood, and accessibility variables were considered in the models of mode use, trip length, and trip frequency for the Montreal Island. The results of the analyses reveal a significant degree of geographical variability in the travel behavior of seniors in the Island. In particular, estimates for seniors with different socio- demographic profiles show substantial intra-urban variability in walking behavior, and the role of neighborhood design attributes and accessibility in influencing the mobility of seniors. Demonstration of CPM indicates that seniors in the central parts of Montreal Island obtain higher percentage of physical activity guidelines from walking, but with variations according to gender, income, possession of driver’s licence and vehicle. The results of the walkability analysis suggest that, other factors being equal, walking is more prevalent in street segments with marked cross–walks, horizontal and vertical mixtures in land uses, and low traffic volume. Other factors being equal, walking was less prevalent in segments with unmarked cross–walks, single residential and/or vacant land use, and high traffic volume. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Number of seniors across Canada is increasing. Regular physical activity among these growing seniors can help them to maintain a healthy lifestyle. However, seniors are not active in their leisure time. This study shows how much seniors are active in travel behavior. In other way, how much walking seniors are undertaking as part of their travel needs and how much it contributes towards their recommended physical activity guidelines. In addition, this study also examines the street-scale built environment that encourages seniors to walk more and drive less.

Movement problems related to Parkinson’s disease (PD) have been shown to have a profound effect on functional independence and reported quality of life. Within the constellation of movement signs of PD (tremor, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia/hypokinesia, and postural instability), impaired arm swing is often the earliest-recognized symptom. It is also a strong independent predictor of greater fall risk and morbidity/mortality risk. Early treatment for movement problems such as impaired arm swing is associated with the greatest improvement in these impairments. However, movement problems often coincide with impaired processing of sensory information, leaving many people with PD with inadequate awareness of their posture and limb position. Thus, PD-related gait deficits are difficult for people to correct by themselves. External cueing techniques (such as visual cues in the environment or auditory cues for pacing and rhythm) have shown promise in improving parameters such as gait speed, s / Kinesiology

After looking in the vault copies, the Digitization Centre has determined that page vi is a missing page and may be a printing error. -Digitization Centre / This study aimed to improve understanding of walking exercise among individuals with intermittent claudication. Using a prospective design, Ajzen's (1985, 1991) theory of planned behaviour was applied to examine psychosocial determinants of walking exercise. In addition, measures of barrier self-efficacy were explored as determinants of behaviour and perceived pain intensity was examined as a moderator of the intention-behaviour relationship. Ninety-four participants (n = 33 female) completed baseline measures of attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and intentions to engage in walking exercise. Additional measures of pain-related barrier self-efficacy and barrier self-efficacy regarding walking exercise were obtained and the Borg CR1 0 Pain Scale (Borg, 1998) was used to assess perceived pain intensity during walking. Participants were contacted weekly by telephone over four consecutive weeks and asked to recall their walking exercise and associated perceived pain intensity for the preceding seven-day period. Attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control contributed significantly to a multiple regression model predicting 67% of the variance in walking intentions. Intentions and perceived behavioural control explained 34% of the variance in walking exercise; however, pain-related barrier self-efficacy and barrier self-efficacy did not explain additional variance in behaviour and perceived pain intensity failed to moderate the intention-behaviour relationship. Findings support the theory of planned behaviour for predicting walking intentions and exercise among individuals with intermittent claudication, and suggest that pain cognitions as measured in this study do not play a role in determining walking. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

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Introduction: Wearable technologies play an important contemporary role in the measurement of physical activity (PA) and promotion of human health across the lifespan, including for young people (i.e., children, adolescents, and young adults). As new objective wearable technologies continue to develop, standardized approaches to documenting validation parameters (i.e., measures of accuracy, precision, and bias) are needed to ensure confidence and comparability in step-defined PA. Purpose: To produce validity parameters for step counting wearable technologies during treadmill walking in young people 6-20 years of age Methods: 120 participants completed 5-minute treadmill bouts from13.4 to 134.1 m·min-1. Participants wore eight technologies (two at the arm/wrist, four at the waist, one on the thigh, and one on the ankle) while steps were directly observed. Speed, wear location, and age -specific measures of accuracy (mean absolute percent error; MAPE), precision (correlation coefficient, standard deviation; SD, coefficient of variation; CoV), and bias (percent error; PE) were computed and cataloged. Results: Speed and wear location had a significant effect on accuracy and bias measures for wearable technologies (pConclusion: While the analyses indicate the significance of speed and wear location on wearable technology performance, the useful and comprehensive validity reference values cataloged herein will help optimize measurement of PA in youth. Future research should continue to rigorously validate new wearable technologies as they are developed, and also extend these standardized reference values developed in the laboratory to the free-living environment.