Physical therapy
-
Controlled Clinical Trial
Effects of physical training on functional status in patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation.
Patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) are frequently deconditioned because of respiratory failure precipitated by the underlying disease, the adverse effects of medications, and a period of prolonged immobilization. The effects of 6 weeks of physical training on the strength of respiratory and limb muscles, on ventilator-free time, and on functional status in patients requiring PMV were examined. ⋯ The results show that a 6-week physical training program may improve limb muscle strength and ventilator-free time and thus improve functional outcomes in patients requiring PMV.
-
Controlled Clinical Trial
Community-based tai chi and its effect on injurious falls, balance, gait, and fear of falling in older people.
It is important to determine the effect of adherence to a tai chi program on falls and related functional outcomes in older people. This study examined the effect of a community-based tai chi program on injurious falls, balance, gait, and fear of falling among people aged 65 years and older in Taiwan. ⋯ Tai chi can prevent a decline in functional balance and gait among older people. However, the reduction in injurious falls attained with tai chi did not reach statistical significance; the statistical inefficiency may have resulted partly from the large decline in injurious falls in control villagers. Finally, the unexpected effect of educational intervention on reducing injurious falls in different settings needs to be further examined.