Thesis (M.P.H.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006.

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2006.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2008. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 209-216).

The purpose of this thesis was to compare the contributions of attentional resources relevant to postural control between fall-fearful and non-fearful older adults. Levels of postural challenge and instructions of task prioritization were manipulated to obtain this goal. Results indicated that fall-fearful subjects demonstrated a reorganization of attentional resources when challenge to upright standing was imposed. Additionally, only non-fearful subjects demonstrated flexibility in the prioritization of the cognitive task. However both fall-fearful and non-fearful subjects demonstrated flexibility in the prioritization of the postural task. Findings suggested that fall-fearful older adults reorganize the allocation of attentional resources differently than non-fearful counterparts, potentially placing them at greater risk for falling as their awareness of the external environment and threats to balance may be compromised. / xii, 80 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 251-287.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 148-159) Also available in print.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-122).

published_or_final_version / Sports Science / Master / Master of Science in Sports Science

This study enabled the development of a brief, clinically fesible screening tool for falls and injury risk identification in older community-dwelling adults through a range of methods that included a literature review, a Case Note Audit of 128 people attending Falls and Balance clinic, and group,processes (Nominal Group and Delphi Panel with 12 and 10 participants respectively). These methods focussed on developing specifications for the screening tool, selecting key modifiable risk factors and associated tests for both falls and injury and considering questions that would determine self-perception of falls risk, general health and balance. The range of methods and process of triangulation ensured content validity of the tool. / thesis (MPhysiotherapy)--University of South Australia, 2002.

Although research evidence clearly indicates support surface properties are a major factor contributing to fall risk among the elderly, investigations examining the influence of variations in surface conditions on the postural control of older adults during task performance have been limited. Thus, the primary purpose of the present studies was to determine whether the coordination and control of body kinematics exhibited by older adults during upright leaning (i.e., leaning forward through the region of stability) and gait would be different across variations in support surface properties. Secondary objectives of these studies included, examining if coordination and control measures of body kinematics differed as a function of the participants' level of postural stability and/or repeated exposure to the support surface properties. Three support surface conditions were selected for inclusion based on resistance properties to applied forces (i.e., normal and shear): rigid, high friction; compliant; and rigid, low friction. For both tasks performed, body kinematics for trials 1-3 (T1) and 10-12 (T2) from 12 completed trials on each support surface were analyzed using three-dimensional (3-D) video analyses. Results of separate univariate repeated measures analyses of variance yielded significant surface condition main effects for lower extremity coordination patterns and postural control strategies in the gait and leaning task, respectively. Additionally, a significant surface condition main effect and an interaction effect of surface condition by trial block were identified for the measure of head stability in the gait and leaning tasks, respectively. Differences in head stability and the control of lower extremity joint motions as a function of level of postural stability (i.e., group differences) were observed only during the walking task. Present findings indicate that during goal-directed behavior, the coordinated movements of the body and its segments emerge from constraints imposed by the interaction of the support surface, the task and the individual. The observed adaptations in the coordination and control of posture in response to support surface constraints evidenced in the present studies provide support for the theory of perception and the control of bodily orientation (Riccio & Stoffregen, 1988). / Graduation date: 1998