Although walkers are commonly used by elderly individuals, little is known about their impact on gait characteristics. Effects of four walkers on posture, cadence, walking speed and lower limb weight bearing in twenty elderly subjects of 84 $ pm$ 7.5 years of age were identified using a 4 x 4 balanced cross-over design. Walkers differed in how the legs were tipped: (A) rubber tips; (B) wheels/rubber tips; (C) wheels/skis, and (D) a prototypic posterior walker with wheels/skis. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and ANOVA. Walker D was significantly associated with a more erect posture, whereas walkers B and C were significantly affiliated with the highest cadence and walking speed respectively. Results from this study may aid walker prescription in relation to the individual's needs and physical capabilities. The ability to enhance gait characteristics in the elderly may restore, improve or maintain functional independence as well as their quality of life.

The Aggression Replacement Training Program (ART) is an approach to reduce aggression in Young Offenders. This program was implemented with a sample of youths on probation and living in the community (N = 21). The goal was to evaluate the efficacy of the program, and to measure changes in aggression, skill acquisition and recidivism rates. A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design was used. The Aggression Questionnaire and Skillstreaming Checklist were the main source of data and results were compared pre- and posttest. Recidivism rates were determined six months after the start of the program. An improvement in aggression scores was found in the ART sample, but this was not statistically significant. Only 5.8% of the total sample that had recidivated, committed an aggressive crime. Recommendations are made to maximize the efficacy of the ART program for the future.

The age related decline in cardiorespiratory function is well known. However, less is known about the cardiorespiratory health of the elderly stroke survivor or of how stroke related impairment, disability and handicap relate to it. In order to determine the relationships between measures of impairment, disability, handicap and indicators of cardiorespiratory health, in elderly community-dwelling persons with stroke, a cross-sectional study involving forty-six elderly stroke survivors living in the city of Montreal, was conducted. Subjects were assessed on several indicators of cardiorespiratory health and measures of impairment, disability and handicap (disablement). All assessments were done in the subjects' homes by a physiotherapist. Several significant associations between measures of disablement and cardiorespiratory health were uncovered. The findings suggest that strength, mobility and function influence cardiorespiratory health, and reintegration to normal living post-stroke is affected by functional exercise capacity.

Studies have indicated that weight gain, and being overweight, are risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Weight management is particularly intense in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) settings where the majority of participants are medically defined as overweight or obese and often have co-morbid risk factors. CR programs in Canada focus primarily on cardiovascular fitness, but have extended their program interventions to address cardiac risk factor modification, including diet management and weight loss. Health-related research has indicated that on average, CR participants show weight neutrality (no change from baseline weight) upon CR program completion. Prior to this study there was no substantive qualitative data exploring why this occurs. This doctoral study was a concurrent analysis of a larger funded qualitative study that explored the everyday practices of people with heart disease and type 2 diabetes who were participating in one of three large urban CR programs. A total of 33 participants were enrolled in the study (17 men and 16 women). Data was collected through the use of in-depth interviews, an activity journal, and field notes. Data analysis used sociologist Chris Shillings’ work related to body projects and corporeal realism in order to explore themes related to body size, diet management, and weight loss. Study results pointed to the importance of recognizing the role of social practice in health behaviour change, and the role of social discourses in determining how healthy bodies should look and act. Participants described how their social worlds shaped their eating practices, and relayed accounts of attempting to integrate their CR prescription into their daily routines. These findings suggest that a more nuanced approach to CR programming that takes into account the medical and social influences at work on CR participants while they attempt to modify health behaviours, may further inform the development of future CR weight loss and diet programming.

Studies have indicated that weight gain, and being overweight, are risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease. Weight management is particularly intense in cardiac rehabilitation (CR) settings where the majority of participants are medically defined as overweight or obese and often have co-morbid risk factors. CR programs in Canada focus primarily on cardiovascular fitness, but have extended their program interventions to address cardiac risk factor modification, including diet management and weight loss. Health-related research has indicated that on average, CR participants show weight neutrality (no change from baseline weight) upon CR program completion. Prior to this study there was no substantive qualitative data exploring why this occurs. This doctoral study was a concurrent analysis of a larger funded qualitative study that explored the everyday practices of people with heart disease and type 2 diabetes who were participating in one of three large urban CR programs. A total of 33 participants were enrolled in the study (17 men and 16 women). Data was collected through the use of in-depth interviews, an activity journal, and field notes. Data analysis used sociologist Chris Shillings’ work related to body projects and corporeal realism in order to explore themes related to body size, diet management, and weight loss. Study results pointed to the importance of recognizing the role of social practice in health behaviour change, and the role of social discourses in determining how healthy bodies should look and act. Participants described how their social worlds shaped their eating practices, and relayed accounts of attempting to integrate their CR prescription into their daily routines. These findings suggest that a more nuanced approach to CR programming that takes into account the medical and social influences at work on CR participants while they attempt to modify health behaviours, may further inform the development of future CR weight loss and diet programming.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended for those living with heart disease, however adherence is suboptimal. The home program (HP) model of care is as clinically effective as traditional programs (TP), however little information exists about the HP’s effect on adherence. The objectives of this thesis were to 1) compare adherence of patients in a HP and TP model of CR. 2) To characterize self-regulatory self-efficacy (SR-SE) in a CR HP and 3) to explore the reasons for non-completion of a HP. Study 1 showed adherence to be similar between the TP and HP. Study 2 showed that SR-SE was high throughout the HP for completers, but dropped in those who did not complete the program. The HP is a good alternative for those unable to attend a TP; however those with low SR-SE may require further interventions to help them complete their program.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended for those living with heart disease, however adherence is suboptimal. The home program (HP) model of care is as clinically effective as traditional programs (TP), however little information exists about the HP’s effect on adherence. The objectives of this thesis were to 1) compare adherence of patients in a HP and TP model of CR. 2) To characterize self-regulatory self-efficacy (SR-SE) in a CR HP and 3) to explore the reasons for non-completion of a HP. Study 1 showed adherence to be similar between the TP and HP. Study 2 showed that SR-SE was high throughout the HP for completers, but dropped in those who did not complete the program. The HP is a good alternative for those unable to attend a TP; however those with low SR-SE may require further interventions to help them complete their program.

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to operationalize the coronary care patient's concept of hope. Analysis of 25 subjects' responses to an open interview format suggested that the sample's definition of hope revolved around five categories. These categories were: 1) theistic beliefs: 2) knowledge that they would not die, require surgery, or experience pain; 3) a wish not to die; 4) a wish to get better; and, 5) confidence that they would get better. Furthermore, significant differences in: 1) the sample's definition of hope: 2) the feelings associated with admission to the coronary care unit: and, 3) the factors that positively influenced the sample's level of hope were directly related to the subject's age.