Exercise Can Improve Speed of Behavior in Older Drivers

The main aim of this research was to study the effects of a specific exercise program on the speed of behavior of older adults during on-the-road driving. Twenty-six drivers (55–78 yr old) were randomly assigned to either an exercise group or a control group. The exercise program (3 sessions of 60 min/wk for 8 wk) incorporated tasks that induced the participants to respond quickly to challenging situations. On-the-road driving tasks (under single- and dual-task conditions) included measures of simple and choice reaction time, movement time, and response time. Significant positive effects were found at follow-up resulting from participation in the exercise program: Improvements were found for several measures in all driving tasks, and a composite score reflected a better general drivers’ speed of behavior. These results show that exercise can enhance speed of behavior in older drivers and should therefore be promoted

Effects of two 24-week multimodal exercise programs on reaction time, mobility, and dual-task performance in community-dwelling older adults at risk of falling: a randomized controlled trial

Background Falls in older adults are considered a major public health problem. Declines in cognitive and physical functions, as measured by parameters including reaction time, mobility, and dual-task performance, have been reported to be important risk factors for falls. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of two multimodal programs on reaction time, mobility, and dual-task performance in community-dwelling older adults at risk of falling. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, fifty-one participants (75.4 ± 5.6 years) were allocated into two experimental groups (EGs) (with sessions 3 times per week for 24 weeks), and a control group: EG1 was enrolled in a psychomotor intervention program, EG2 was enrolled in a combined exercise program (psychomotor intervention program + whole-body vibration program), and the control group maintained their usual daily activities. The participants were assessed at baseline, after the intervention, and after a 12-week no-intervention follow-up period. Results The comparisons revealed significant improvements in mobility and dual-task performance after the intervention in EG1, while there were improvements in reaction time, mobility, and dual-task performance in EG2 (p ≤ 0.05). The size of the interventions’ clinical effect was medium in EG1 and ranged from medium to large in EG2. The comparisons also showed a reduction in the fall rate in both EGs (EG1: -44.2%; EG2: − 63.0%, p ≤ 0.05) from baseline to post-intervention. The interventions’ effects on reaction time, mobility, and dual-task performance were no longer evident after the 12-week no-intervention follow-up period. Conclusions The results suggest that multimodal psychomotor programs were well tolerated by community-dwelling older adults and were effective for fall prevention, as well as for the prevention of cognitive and physical functional decline, particularly if the programs are combined with whole-body vibration exercise. The discontinuation of these programs could lead to the fast reversal of the positive outcomes achieved

Test-retest reliability of the functional reach test and the hand grip strength test in older adults using nursing home services

This study aimed to determine the absolute and relative test-retest reliability of the functional reach test (FRT) and the handgrip strength test (HGST) in older adults using nursing homes. Methods Participants (≥ 65 years old), living in nursing homes or using their day care services, were distributed into a group without cognitive impairment (GWCI, n = 43) and a group with mild cognitive impairment (GCI; n = 22). A 1-week test-retest was performed for the FRT and the HGST. Relative reliability was measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC3.1), and absolute reliability by the standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC95), and Bland-Altman plots. Results The ICC showed high reliability for the FRT (GWCI, ICC = 0.83; GCI, ICC = 0.87) and the HGST (ICC ≥ 0.95 in both hands and participant groups). The absolute reliability was good: FRT, SEM = 2.96/2.29, MDC95 = 8.20/6.35 for the GWCI and the GCI, respectively; HGST dominant hand SEM = 1.26/0.82, MDC95 = 3.50/2.29, and HGST non-dominant hand SEM = 1.05/0.80, MDC95 = 2.90/2.21, for the GWCI and the GCI, respectively. Bland-Altman showed that there was not a systematic bias for the tests in both groups. Discussion Findings show that the FRT and the HGST are reliable, have acceptable measurement error, and may be used for research and clinical purposes to assess functional balance and strength of the hands in older adults using nursing homes

Multidimensional assessment of interoceptive awareness: Psychometric properties of the Portuguese version

Interoceptive awareness involves several mind–body dimensions and can be evaluated by self-report with the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), which has been translated and validated in several countries and is being used in research and clinical contexts. This study systematically translated the MAIA with six additional items using a focus group and evaluated its psychometric properties in a respondent sample of 204 Portuguese university students (52% females; M = 21.3, SD = 3.9 years). Based on exploratory factor analysis, we refined the tool into a 33-item version and tested it in a separate sample (n = 286; 63% females; M = 21.3, SD = 4.7 years). We then conducted confirmatory factor analysis and examined test–retest reliability and convergent and discriminant validity. We confirmed an acceptable model fit for this Portuguese version (MAIA-P) with 33 items and seven scales; it showed good construct validity and acceptable temporal reliability, The MAIA-P appears to be valuable for assessing self-reported interoceptive awareness in Portuguese healthy adults

OUT to IN: Efeitos de um programa de intervenção psicomotora na autorregulação de crianças em idade pré-escolar

A autorregulação na idade pré-escolar é preditora do bem-estar e do sucesso pessoal e social na vida adulta. O programa OUT to IN propõe uma abordagem de mediação corporal implementada no espaço exterior do jardim de infância com o objetivo de melhorar as competências sócio-emocionais. Este estudo tem como objetivo examinar o impacto do OUT to IN, na autorregulação de crianças em idade pré-escolar. Participaram no estudo 32 crianças com idades entre os 3 e os 5 anos, 15 alocadas ao Grupo de Controlo, que não participou na intervenção e 17 ao Grupo Experimental (GE), que participou durante 10 semanas em sessões bissemanais, envolvendo atividades semi-dirigidas de jogo de exercício, relaxação e simbolização. A autorregulação das crianças foi avaliada através de duas provas, antes e após a intervenção. No final do programa, o GE evidenciou uma melhoria significativa da autorregulação, avaliada por ambas as provas, comparativamente ao grupo de controlo. Os resultados sugerem que o OUT to IN contribui para o desenvolvimento da autorregulação de crianças de idade pré-escolar

A psycho-Geoinformatics approach for investigating older adults’ driving behaviours and underlying cognitive mechanisms

Introduction: Safe driving constantly challenges the driver’s ability to respond to the dynamic traffic scene under space and time constraints. It is of particular importance for older drivers to perform sufficient visual and motor actions with effective coordination due to the fact of age-related cognitive decline. However, few studies have been able to integrate drivers’ visual-motor behaviours with environmental information in a spatial-temporal context and link to the cognitive conditions of individual drivers. Little is known about the mechanisms that underpin the deterioration in visual-motor coordination of older drivers. Development: Based on a review of driving-related cognitive decline in older adults and the context of driver-vehicle-environment interactions, this paper established a conceptual framework to identify the parameters of driver’s visual and motor behaviour, and reveal the cognitive process from visual search to vehicle control in driving. The framework led to a psycho-geoinformatics approach to measure older drivers’ driving behaviours and investigate the underlying cognitive mechanisms. The proposed data collection protocol and the analysis and assessments depicted the psycho-geoinformatics approach on obtaining quantified variables and the key means of analysis, as well as outcome measures. Conclusions: Recordings of the driver and their interactions with the vehicle and environment at a detailed scale give a closer assessment of the driver’s behaviours. Using geoinformatics tools in driving behaviours assessment opens a new era of research with many possible analytical options, which do not have to rely on human observations. Instead, it receives clear indicators of the individual drivers’ interactions with the vehicle and the traffic environment. This approach should make it possible to identify lower-performing older drivers and problematic visual and motor behaviours, and the cognitive predictors of risky driving behaviours. A better targeted regulation and tailored intervention programs for older can be developed by further research

Regulação Emocional: Contributos das técnicas de relaxação

Este trabalho aborda o papel das técnicas de relaxação ao nível da regulação emocional. Quer os modelos teóricos, quer os estudos empíricos sustentam o papel importante do corpo no processamento emocional, compreendido por três passos básicos: a atenção, a avaliação e a resposta. Apesar do papel motriz das emoções nos nossos comportamentos e decisões, temos a capacidade de regulação emocional, isto é, conseguimos gerir os impulsos emocionais iniciais e modificá-los para formas socialmente aceitáveis, expressando-os adequadamente. Os contributos das técnicas de relaxação no âmbito da regulação emocional centram-se em três dimensões: (1) a promoção da consciência corporal, (2) a aprendizagem da modelação da resposta emocional e (3) o treino da atenção. Ao longo do trabalho são referenciados e descritos vários estudos que têm mostrado a eficácia de programas de relaxação no âmbito das perturbações e doenças associadas à desregulação emocional

Interocetividade e consciência corporal na resposta ao stress.

Este trabalho destaca a importância do corpo na compreensão e intervenção em diversas condições de saúde associadas com o stress. Partindo da relação entre corpo e emoção, é apresentado e desenvolvido o conceito de interoceptividade, que reflete o estado fisiológico geral do organismo e tem um papel fundamental na consciência corporal e na construção e regulação dos afetos. São revistos os principais substratos e circuitos neuronais da interoceptividade e da consciência corporal, os quais são também um alicerce fundamental do self. Este artigo explora a conexão entre a competência interoceptiva e diversas perturbações psiquiátricas, entre elas a ansiedade, a depressão e a alexitimia. Por último, são apresentadas evidências de que é possível desenvolver a perceção e utilização dos sinais corporais interoceptivos, o que se traduz em melhorias na consciência corporal, autorregulação emocional e no bem-estar psicológico. A este propósito, a prática de mindfulness é colocada em destaque pela sua ligação próxima com o corpo, com os estados emocionais e com a resposta ao stress

Test-retest reliability of upper-limb proprioception and balance tests in older nursing home residents

Aim To examine the test-retest reliability of two upper-limb proprioception tests (Weight Detection Test, or WDT, and Arm Ruler Positioning Test, or ARPT) and two balance tests (Functional Reach Test, or FRT, and Timed Up and Go test, or TUG) in older nursing home residents. Methods Fifty-three nursing home residents (85.9 ± 3.9 years) participated in this study. Outcome measures were assessed on two occasions, 10–14 days apart. The same rater administered all tests. The relative reliability was estimated using the intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) with a two-way mixed-effects model. The absolute reliability was analyzed using the standard error of the mean (SEM) to estimate the minimal detectable change (MDC) at the 95 % confidence level. Systematic bias was studied using the paired-samples t-test or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results The WDT (ICC = 0.84), ARPT (ICC = 0.87) and FRT (ICC = 0.85) had good relative reliability, and the TUG (ICC = 0.99) had excellent reliability. Our results suggest acceptable measurement precision: the SEMs were equal to 1.0 points, and 0.3 cm, 1.5 cm, and 0.5 s for the WDT, ARPT, FRT, and TUG, respectively. The mean difference between sessions was 0.3 points (1.4 %; w=-1.37, p = 0.17) in the WDT, 0.1 cm (-0.74 %; t = 0.41, p = 0.68) in the ARPT, 0.1 cm (0.45 %; w=-0.33, p = 0.74) in the FRT, and 0.2 s (1.37 %; w=-2.28, p = 0.02) in the TUG. Conclusions This study showed that the four field-usable motor tests had good to excellent test-retest reliability and had acceptable measurement precision in older nursing home residents. These tests could be valuable clinical tools for assessing proprioception and balance in nursing home residents