High Challenge Activities for Low Tech Adults and their Therapists

detectable change of four-step stair climb power test in communitydwelling older adults. Phys Ther. 2017;97(7):767-773. 4. Vestergaard S, Patel KV, Bandinelli S, Ferrucci L, Guralnik JM.

Characteristics of 400-meter walk test performance and subsequent mortality in older adults. Rejuvenation Res. 2009;12(3):177-184. 5. Lee L, Patel T, Costa A, et al. Screening for frailty in primary care:

Accuracy of gait speed and hand-grip strength. Can Fam Physician. 2017;63(1):e51-e57. 6. Maritz CA, Silbernagel KG. A prospective cohort study on the effect of a balance training program, including calf muscle strengthening, in community-dwelling older adults. J Geriatr Phys Ther. 2016;39(3):125-131. 7. Spink MJ, Fotoohabadi MR, Wee E, Hill KD, Lord SR, Menz HB. Foot and ankle strength, range of motion, posture, and deformity are associated with balance and functional ability in older adults. Arch

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Logan Taulbee, PT, DPT, GCS, CSCS is a graduate from the University of North Florida and the Brooks Rehabilitation Geriatric Residency. He currently works in Jacksonville, Florida for Brooks Rehabilitation in the outpatient and inpatient care settings, as well as the Outpatient Geriatric Coordinator.

Ashleigh Trapuzzano, PT, DPT, GCS is a graduate from The University of Central Florida in 2019 and the Brooks Rehabilitation Geriatric Residency in 2020. She currently works in the home health and skilled nursing settings in Jacksonville, Florida.

Timothy Nguyen, PT, DPT, GCS is a graduate from the University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center and Brooks Rehabilitation Geriatric Residency. He is currently working in the outpatient care setting and hopes to continue mentoring local doctoral of physical therapy students in the Northwest Arkansas Area.

The idea of the Geriatric Functional Milestones developed over our residency while discussing our thoughts about motor control. We realized that there is a lack of understanding on how motor control and activities change for aging adults. We thought the GFMs could promote movement, rather than promote impairment. We later presented a platform presentation virtually for the 2021 Combined Sections Meeting, which was a great way to share our thoughts.

Resident’s Corner

The Resident’s Corner is column space set aside in each issue of GeriNotes to highlight the work, observations, and accomplishments of a resident(s) in one of the 20 residency and fellowship accredited programs of the American Board of Physical Therapy. All residents are invited to submit work or story ideas to gerinoteseditor@gmail.com.

Editor’s Note: Readers are encouraged to submit simple tips and tricks to use in the clinic that are lowtech, low-cost, and yet challenging. Jill Heitzmann has kindly agreed to show her tricks with this one

Dual Task Cognitition and Fuctional Balance

• A deck of playing cards, with a small piece of peel and stick velcro attached to the front of the card, is attached to a hard board. The big board is then placed against a wall or other upright surface. • Another deck of cards is prepared for the participant with peel and stick velcro on the back of these cards. • The deck of cards are shuffled. The patient draws a card and reaches to match the card to the one on the board. This task can be done in sit or standing. In standing, the patient can stand on firm surface or foam or other dynamic surface for greater challenges. • The task can be made harder with cuff weights around wrists. • If the board is made of smaller (81/2" x11") boards then they can be placed further apart for greater reaching. • Since this is for cognitive functions similar to trail making, the cards can be placed on the board in simple one suit fashion with only a few cards for those with lower function T. • To increase cognitive challenge, set up the boards with 2,3,or all 4 suits.