Exploring the relationship between falls, fall‐related psychological concerns, and personality traits in adults : a scoping review protocol

Background and Aims: Personality traits, such as neuroticism and extraversion, are emerging as important predictors of falls. Despite their significance, existing fall prevention programs often overlook these traits, creating a notable research gap. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive scoping review to explore the existing literature on the relationships among personality traits, falls, and fall-related psychological concerns (FrPCs). Methods: This scoping review will adhere to the framework established by Arksey and O'Malley, incorporating extensions recommended by the Joanna Briggs Institute and using the PRISMA-ScR checklist. A thorough search strategy will be employed, aligning with the population, concept, and context (PCC) selection criteria. Electronic databases, including MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus, will be searched from their inception to the present. Additionally, a manual search of the reference lists of identified and relevant full-text articles will be conducted. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts, perform full-text reviews, and extract data from pertinent articles. Discussion: Personality traits are increasingly recognized as influential predictors of falls and related psychological concerns. This review aims to make a substantial contribution to the existing literature by being the first to comprehensively explore and provide a descriptive synthesis of the relationship between personality traits and falls, as well as FrPCs in adults. It is hoped that the outcomes of this review will enhance our comprehension of the role of personality traits in falls, potentially informing future research and strategies for this critical area of study. Scoping Review Registration: This scoping review protocol was registered with Open Science Framework (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/KR74X)

Setting priorities for ageing research in Africa: a systematic mapping review of 512 studies from sub-Saharan Africa

BACKGROUND: In 2040, the older population's growth rate in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) will be faster than those experienced by developed nations since 1950. In preparation for this growth, the National Institute on Aging commissioned the National Academies' Committee on Population to organize a workshop on advancing aging research in Africa. This meeting provided a platform for discussing some areas requiring improvement in aging research in SSA regions. We believed that conducting a systematic review of peer-reviewed articles to set priorities for aging research in SSA is warranted. Therefore, this article is the first in a Four-Part series that summaries the types and trends of peer-reviewed studies in SSA. METHODS: This systematic mapping review followed the Search-Appraisal-Synthesis-Analysis Framework. We systematically searched multiple databases from inception till February 2021 and included peer-reviewed articles conducted with/for older adults residing in SSA. Conventional content analysis was employed to categorize studies into subject-related areas. RESULTS: We included 512 studies (quantitative = 426, qualitative = 71 and mixed-method = 15). Studies were conducted in 32 countries. Quantitative studies included were observational studies: cross-sectional (n = 250, 59%), longitudinal (n = 126, 30%), and case-control (n = 12, 3%); and experimental studies: pre-post design (n = 4, 1%), randomized control trial (RCT, n = 12, 3%); and not reported (n = 21, 5%). Fifteen qualitative studies did not state their study design; where stated, study design ranged from descriptive (n = 14, 20%), ethnography (n = 12, 17%), grounded theory (n = 7, 10%), narrative (n = 5, 7%), phenomenology (n = 10, 14%), interpretative exploratory (n = 4, 6%), case studies (n = 4, 6%). Of the 15 mixed-method studies, seven did not state their mixed-method design. Where stated, design includes concurrent (n = 1), convergent (n = 1), cross-sectional (n = 3), informative (n = 1), sequential exploratory (n = 1) and retrospective (n = 2). Studies were classified into 30 (for quantitative studies) and seven (for qualitative and mixed-method) subject-related areas. HIV/AIDs-related and non-communicable diseases-related studies were the most predominant subject-related areas. No studies explored the transdisciplinary co-production of interventions. CONCLUSIONS: There are glaring gaps in ageing research in SSA, especially mixed-methods and RCTs. A large number of studies focused on HIV/AIDs and non-communicable disease-related studies. National and international funding agencies should set up priority funding competitions for transdisciplinary collaborations in ageing research

EQUIVALENCE TESTING OF WEARABLE TECHNOLOGIES DURING SIMULATED ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING

BACKGROUND: Step-based metrics, including steps/day and cadence (steps/min), are well established in the physical activity literature. However, there remains a need for robust criterion validation of step-counting wearable technologies across a wide range of ambulatory movements. Validation studies have typically examined device accuracy during rhythmic treadmill or overground walking, with few studies examining step-count accuracy during simulated activities of daily living (SADL). PURPOSE: To determine the step-count criterion validity of wearable devices during SADLs. METHODS: Participants (N = 260, 52.7±18.9 years, BMI 25.6±3.7 kg/m2, 50% women) from the CADENCE-Adults study, completed a series of laboratory-based SADLs, including folding laundry, vacuuming, stair stepping, and preferred pace overground walking. Participants wore devices on their waist (Yamax Digiwalker SW200 [SW200], New Lifestyles NL1000 [NL], ActiGraph GT9X [AG] and ActiCal [AC]), thigh (activPal [AP]), and ankle (StepWatch [SW]). The criterion measure was directly observed hand-counted steps (both in real-time and verified using video recording). Equivalence testing plots were generated to assess the criterion validity of each device. Unlike traditional null hypothesis testing, which seeks to determine whether there were any statistical differences between devices, equivalence testing evaluates agreement between the criterion and test device. The equivalence zone was set at ±0.2 SD of the criterion step count for each SADL. Devices were deemed equivalent to the criterion when their mean error and the 95% CI fell within the equivalence zone. RESULTS: On average, devices tended to underestimate (-4, -31, -28, -6 steps/min) for folding laundry, vacuuming, stair stepping, and overground walking, respectively. No devices fell inside the equivalence zone for folding laundry, vacuuming, and stair stepping. For preferred pace overground walking, only the SW and AP fell within the equivalence zone. CONCLUSIONS: No device performed well across the full range of activities; however, the SW and AP were deemed equivalent during preferred pace overground walking. Device manufacturers should aim to refine step algorithms to improve step-count accuracy across a wider range of ambulatory activities. FUNDING: NIH-NIA-5R01AG04902

CHARACTERIZATION OF FREE-LIVING STEP-BASED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY METRICS AMONG PATIENTS WITH FEMOROACETABULAR IMPINGEMENT SYNDROME

BACKGROUND: Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) is a hip-joint disorder characterized by abnormal bony morphology (femoral-sided, “cam”; or acetabular-sided, “pincer”). FAIS is a precursor to hip arthritis and is often associated with low physical activity (PA) due to pain. Previous studies have relied on self-report questionnaires to assess PA. Device-based measurement (e.g., accelerometry), specifically step-based metrics (e.g., steps/day and cadence indices), may offer a more comprehensive assessment of PA patterns in this population. METHODS: We recruited 25 participants with FAIS (age=31.0±9.2 years, 60% women, BMI=26.1±4.7 kg/m2) and 14 healthy controls (age=28.1±9.1 years, 64% women, BMI=26.3±3.4 kg/m2). Participants were categorized as Cam only, Combined (cam and pincer), or Healthy (controls). Participants wore a waist-mounted accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+, ActiGraph LLC, Pensacola, FL) for 7 days during waking hours. Step-based metrics were computed, including steps/day, peak 1- and 30-min cadence (PK1 and PK30; steps/min), and time spent in various cadence bands (1-19, 20-39, 40-59,⋯100-119 steps/min). One-way ANOVAs with post hoc testing were conducted to examine group differences. Effect sizes (eta squared; η2) were calculated and interpreted as small=0.01, medium=0.06, and large=0.14. RESULTS: We found significant group effects for PK1 and PK30 (p=0.02 and 0.05, η²=0.29 and 0.25, respectively). Post hoc tests showed lower PK1 and PK30 for Cam vs. Healthy (p=0.003 and 0.005, respectively) and Combined vs. Healthy (p=0.02 and 0.05, respectively). Similarly, there were main effects for time spent in slow, medium, and brisk cadence bands (60-79, 80-99, and 100-119 steps/min (p=0.004, 0.02, and 0.02; η²=0.27, 0.26, and 0.19, respectively). Post hoc tests indicated differences in time spent in these cadence bands for Cam vs. Healthy (p=0.007, 0.03, and 0.02, respectively), while Combined differed significantly from Healthy only for the slow and medium cadence bands (p=0.01 and 0.03, respectively). There was no main effect for steps/day between groups (p=0.06, η²=0.1). CONCLUSION: Although there was no main effect of group for steps/day, several cadence-based metrics were lower among the FAIS groups, particularly for Cam vs Healthy. Future studies are encouraged to examine step-based metrics in individuals with FAIS, as they appear to capture real-world differences in walking behaviors

An exploratory cohort study of serum estradiol, testosterone, osteoprotegerin, interleukin-6, calcium, and magnesium as potential biomarkers of cervical spondylosis

Abstract Background Exploration of biomarkers for debilitating diseases such as cervical spondylosis is important to revolutionize clinical diagnosis and management of such conditions. The study aimed to determine the correlation between neck pain and disability and serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), osteoprotegerin (OPG), estradiol (E2), testosterone (TES), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) among individuals with symptomatic cervical spondylosis. Methods This study was a cohort design. The participants were new referrals to two Nigerian physical therapy clinics. Participants’ neck pain intensity (PI), neck disability index (NDI), IL-6, OPG, E2, TES, Ca, and Mg were measured at baseline and after 13 weeks of follow-up. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t test, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression. Results Forty individuals aged 52.40 ± 8.60 years participated in the study. Women had significantly higher levels of IL-6 (t =  − 2.392, p = 0.026), OPG (t =  − 3.235, p = 0.005), E2 (t =  − 6.841, p = 0.001), but lower TES (t = 17.776, p = 0.001). There were no significant sex differences in PI and NDI. There were significant correlations between PI and OPG (r = 0.385, p < 0.001), NDI and OPG (r = 0.402, p < 0.001), and IL-6 (r = 0.235, p = 0.036). Significant predictors of PI were OPG (β = 0.442, p < 0.001) and E2 (β =  − 0.285, p = 0.011), and NDI were OPG (β = 0.453, p < 0.001), E2 (β =  − 0.292, p = 0.005), and IL-6 (β = 0.225, p = 0.024). Conclusion High serum levels of IL-6 and OPG were associated with cervical spondylosis severity. However, high serum levels of E2 and TES correlated with lesser severity. Moreover, TES inversely correlated with the proinflammatory cytokines