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confused haroon 62/6 On Sat, Mar 28, 2009 at 12:26 PM, Nic Marais <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Interesting... So, we must focus on the floor not moving...;-) > > Nic 57/15 > > > On Fri, Mar 27, 2009 at 6:19 AM, rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > > > External focus improves postural stability in patients with Parkinson's > > disease > > March 26th, 2009 > > > > ALEXANDRIA, VA - Patients with Parkinson disease may be able to improve > > their postural stability by directing their attention to the external > > effects of their movements rather than to the movements of their own > body, > > according to a study published in the February 2009 issue of Physical > > Therapy, the scientific journal of the American Physical Therapy > Association > > (APTA). > > > > Adults with Parkinson disease are at greater risk for posture and balance > > impairments. These conditions may lead to falls, resulting in head > injuries > > and fractures, which can end with hospitalization and further mobility > > limitations. Approximately 90 percent of people with Parkinson disease > will > > fall at some point during their lives.1 In the past 12 months, two-thirds > of > > patients with Parkinson disease reported a fall.2 > > > > According to physical therapist researcher and APTA spokesperson Merrill > > Landers, PT, DPT, OCS, "of the major motor signs of Parkinson disease, > > postural instability is the least responsive to medication. It is crucial > > that physical therapists continue to develop effective rehabilitation > > strategies to address this issue." > > > > Lead researcher Gabriele Wulf, PhD, and her team observed 14 adults with > > idiopathic Parkinson disease as they balanced on an unstable surface (an > > inflated rubber disk) under three attentional focus conditions -- > external > > focus, internal focus, and a control condition. > > > > Patients were instructed to either focus on reducing movements of the > > rubber disk (external focus) or movements of their feet (internal focus), > or > > they were not given attentional focus instructions (control condition). > The > > results were consistent with previous findings on attentional focus, > which > > showed that directing attention to the effects of an individual's > movement > > on the environment (external focus) improved postural stability, compared > > with internal focus and control conditions, during standing for > individuals > > with Parkinson disease. > > > > "In the past 12 years or so, numerous studies have been done - many of > them > > involving healthy adults learning sport skills - and it has consistently > > been found that individuals perform and learn motor skills more > effectively > > when they are instructed to adopt an external focus. Other studies have > > shown that those advantages generalize to people after stroke as well as > to > > the rehabilitation of ankle sprains, for example. This is a very reliable > > effect, and the current study demonstrates that persons with Parkinson > > disease benefit from an external attentional focus as well," Wulf > explained. > > > > "Findings from this study not only have the potential to enhance the > > rehabilitation strategies of physical therapists working with patients > with > > Parkinson disease, but may ultimately give patients with postural > > instability more control over their lives through the use of strategies > that > > help them manage their own balance safely and effectively," said Rebecca > > Lewthwaite, PhD, of Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, a > > co-author on the study. > > > > Rayilyn Brown > > Director AZNPF > > Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation > > [log in to unmask] > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto: > > [log in to unmask] > > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto: > [log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > -- Haroon Basheer Tel: +92300 8220196 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn