Twitter: @marlabeauchamp

Improving outcomes in the identification and management of fall risk in people with COPD.

Studies have clearly shown that people with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) have problems with their balance compared to their peers. These balance problems along with several other risk factors contributes to a high risk of falling in people with COPD. The risk of falling in people with COPD was up to 5 times higher than in the general elderly and can lead to injury, hospitalisation and even death. They can also decrease quality of life and cause a high fear of falling. Recently published guidelines from international respiratory organizations have recommended balance testing for people with COPD. But no specific tests are recommended and we still do not know which tests can predict falls and help identify people who need preventative treatment.

Why is the research program important?

My research will identify the best balance test to use for fall risk screening in people with COPD. I will also study the measurement abilities of the balance test so that results can be easily interpreted. This information is important so that we can design programs to identify and treat people with COPD who are likely to fall.

What was the result of the research and what impact will it have?

This research will help us identify people with COPD who have a high risk of falling and allow us to offer treatment to prevent falls in people with COPD who are most likely to fall. Given the considerable negative consequences of falls, preventing falls will ultimately allow us to improve the health and well-being of people with COPD.

Publications

Beauchamp MK, Jette AM, Ni P, Ward RE, Kurlinski L, Leveille SG, Latham NK, Bean JF. Leg and trunk impairments predict participation in life roles in older adults: Results from Boston RISE. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Medical Sciences 2016;71(5):663-9.

Beauchamp MK, Harrison SL, Goldstein RS, Books D. Interpretability of change scores in measures of balance in older adults with COPD. Chest 2016;149(3):696-703.

Ward RE, Beauchamp MK, Latham NK, Leveille SG, Kurlinski L, Pengsheng N, Goldstein R, Jette AM, Bean JF. Neuromuscular Impairments Contributing to Persistently Poor and Declining Lower-Extremity Mobility among Older Adults: New Findings Informing Geriatric Rehabilitation. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2016;97(8):1316-22.

Desveaux L, Beauchamp MK, Lee AL, Ivers NM, Goldstein R, Brooks D. Effects of a community-based, post-rehabilitation exercise program in COPD: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial with embedded process evaluation. JMIR Research Protocols 2016;5(2):e63.

Lee AL, Harrison SL, Beauchamp MK, Janaudis-Ferreira T, Brooks D. Alternative field exercise tests for people with respiratory conditions. Current Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Reports 2015;3: 232-241

Harrison SL, Beauchamp MK, Sibley KM, Araujo T, Romano J, Goldstein RS, Brooks D. Minimizing the evidence-practice gap - A prospective cohort study incorporating balance training into pulmonary rehabilitation for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2015 Jul 23;15(1):73.

O’Hoski S*, Sibley KM, Brooks D, Beauchamp MK. Construct validity of the BESTest, mini-BESTest and briefBESTest in adults aged 50 years and older. Gait Posture 2015;42:301-5.

Beauchamp MK, Bean JF, Ward RE, Kurlinski L, Latham NK, Jette AM. How should disability be measured in older adults? An analysis from Boston RISE. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2015;63:1187-91.

Beauchamp MK, Jette AM, Ward RE, Kurlinski L, Kiely D, Latham N, Bean JF. Predictive validity and responsiveness of patient-reported and performance-based measures of function in the Boston RISE Study. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Medical Sciences 2015;70:616-622.

Ward RE, Leveille SG, Beauchamp MK, Travison T, Alexander N, Jette AM, Bean JF. Functional performance as a predictor of injurious falls in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2015;63:315-20.

Evans RA, Kaplovitch E, Beauchamp MK, Goldstein RS, Gillies C, Brooks D, Mathur S. Is quadriceps endurance reduced in COPD? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Chest 2015;147:673-684.

Sibley KM, Beauchamp MK, Van Ooteghem K, Strauss S, Jaglal S. Using the Systems Framework for postural control to analyze the components of balance evaluated in standardized balance measures: A scoping review. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2015;96:122-132.

Beauchamp MK, Schmidt C, Pederson M, Bean JF, Jette A. Psychometric properties of the Late Life Function and Disability Instrument: a systematic review. BMC Geriatrics 2014;14:12.

Pederson MM, Holt NE, Grande L, Griffith L, Beauchamp MK, Kiely DK, Petersen J, Leveille S, Bean JF. Mild cognitive impairment status and mobility performance: An analysis from the Boston RISE study. Journals of Gerontology Series A: Medical Sciences 2014;69:1511-1518.

Beauchamp MK, Leveille SG, Patel KV, Kiely D, Phillips C, Ferruci L, Guralnik J, Bean JF. What rehabilitative attributes underlie the ability to walk 400 meters in later life? An analysis from the InCHIANTI Study. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2014;93:396-404.

Desveaux L, Beauchamp M, Rolfe D, Gibson B, Goldstein RS, Brooks D. Participant experiences of a community-based maintenance program post-pulmonary rehabilitation. Chronic Respiratory Disease 2014;11:23-30.  

Desveaux L, Beauchamp M, Mathur S, Goldstein RS, Brooks D. Community-based exercise programs as a strategy to maintain function in chronic disease: a systematic review. Medical Care 2014;52:216-26.

O’Hoski S, Winship B, Herridge L, Agha T, Brooks D, Beauchamp MK, Sibley KM. Increasing the clinical utility of the BESTest: Normative values in healthy Canadian adults aged 50 and over. Physical Therapy 2014;94:334-42.

Janaudis-Ferreira T, Beauchamp MK, Games Robles P, Goldstein RS, Brooks D. Measurement of activities of daily living in COPD: a systematic review. Chest 2014;145:253-71.

Beauchamp MK, Janaudis-Ferreira T, Romano J, Woon L, Goldstein RS, Brooks D. A randomized controlled trial of balance training during pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD. Chest 2013;144:1803-10.

Beauchamp MK, Francella S, Romano J, Goldstein RS, Brooks D. A novel approach to long-term respiratory care: results of a fully integrated community-based post-rehabilitation maintenance program in COPD. Respiratory Medicine 2013;107:1210-16.

Beauchamp MK, Evans R, Janaudis-Ferreira T, Goldstein RS, Brooks D. Systematic review of supervised exercise programs after pulmonary rehabilitation in individuals with COPD. Chest 2013;144:1124-33.

Canestraro A, Nakhle A, Stack M, Strong K, Wright A, Beauchamp M, Berg K, Brooks D. Oncology rehabilitation provision and practice patterns across Canada. Physiotherapy Canada 2013;65:94-102.

Beauchamp MK, Sibley K, Lakhani B, Romano J, Mathur S, Goldstein RS, Brooks D.  Impairments in systems underlying control of balance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chest 2012;141:1496-503.

Beauchamp MK, Harvey RH, Beauchamp P. Biofeedback and psychological skills training for performance enhancement: an applied three-year integrated program for Canada’s Olympic Short Track Speedskating Team. Journal of Clinical Sports Psychology 2012;6:67-84.

Janaudis-Ferreira T, Beauchamp MK, Goldstein RS, Brooks D. How should we measure arm exercise capacity in COPD? A systematic review. Chest 2012;141:111-20.

Beauchamp MK, Janaudis-Ferreira T, Goldstein RS, Brooks D. Optimal duration of pulmonary rehabilitation for individuals with COPD - a systematic review. Chronic Respiratory Disease 2011;8:129-40.

Beauchamp MK. Clinician’s Commentary on Roig et al. Postural control is impaired in people with COPD: An observational study. Physiotherapy Canada 2011;63(4):432-33.

Harvey R, Beauchamp MK, Saab M, Beauchamp P. Biofeedback reaction-time training: toward Olympic gold. Biofeedback 2011;39:7-14.

Janaudis-Ferreira T, Hill K, Goldstein RS, Robles-Ribeiro P, Beauchamp MK, Wadell K, Brooks D. Resistance arm training in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized controlled trial. Chest 2011;139:151-58.

Beauchamp MK, O’Hoski S, Goldstein RS, Brooks D. The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on balance in individuals with COPD. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 2010;91:1460-65.

Beauchamp MK, Brooks D, Goldstein RS. Deficits in postural control in individuals with COPD - emerging evidence for an important secondary impairment. Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine 2010;5:417-21.

Beauchamp MK, Nonoyoma M, Goldstein RS, Hill K, Dolmage T, Mathur S, Brooks D. Continuous versus interval exercise training in COPD - a systematic review. Thorax 2010;65:157-64.

Beauchamp MK, Hill K, Goldstein RS, Janaudis-Ferreira T, Brooks D. Impairments in balance discriminate fallers from non-fallers in COPD. Respiratory Medicine 2009;103:1885-91.

Beauchamp MK,Skrela M, Southmayd D, Trick J, Van Kessel M, Inness E, Brunton K, McIlroy WE. Immediate effects of cane use on gait symmetry in individuals with sub-acute stroke. Physiotherapy Canada 2009;61:154-60.

Beauchamp M, Grey V, Lands LC. Sweat collection for testing in Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Centers, is it optimal? Clinical Biochemistry 2005;38:934-37.

Beauchamp M, Lands LC. Sweat-testing: a review of current technical requirements. Pediatric Pulmonology 2005;39:507-11.