Rehabilitation Research Design and Disability Center

2003 Joerger Thesis Annotation

This thesis by Joerger work was funded in part by the ATOMS Project, highlighted some potentially negative consequences of AT, and was a pilot that helped to lay the ground-work for the BIFOCAL Project.

Joerger (2003) examined two types of assistive technology devices (ATDs), walkers and bifocal glasses. This study investigated the impact of a walker and bifocal glasses on gait quality and speed using the Get-Up-and-Go test (GUGT) for gait quality and Timed-Get-Up-and-Go test (TGUGT) for gait speed. The GUGT and TGUGT are screening tools for the risk of falling. The findings of this study revealed interesting aspects related to negative outcomes of AT. Participants in this study demonstrated decreased gait speed and quality while using the walker as compared to not using the walker. They also demonstrated decreased gait quality while using the bifocal glasses when compared to not using the bifocals. However, gait speed was inconclusive while using versus not using the bifocal glasses.

Joerger, T. F. (2003). Risk of falling: The relationship between assistive technology use and the quality and speed of gait. Unpublished master's, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee.