Effects of Music Rhythm on Movement Abnormalities in People With Psychotic-Like Experiences: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Trial Using Motion Analysis.

Movement abnormalities, including movement slowing and irregular muscle contraction, exist in individuals with psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and serve as vulnerable factors of developing psychotic diseases in the psychosis continuum. To date scarce studies have developed early intervention programs tackling these initial impairments, which may be caused by basal ganglia alterations, in the early stage of the psychosis course. Rhythmic auditory stimulation (RAS) is a technique of neurological music therapy and has been proved effective in inducing faster movements in patients with psychotic diseases. This pilot study examined if RAS incorporated in functional movement training reduced severity of movement slowing and irregular muscle contraction in individuals with PLEs. Seventeen individuals with PLEs were randomly allocated to receiving RAS or receiving no RAS and underwent daily 40-min movement training (picking up beans) for three weeks. This study used motion analysis to measure movement performance at pretest and posttest. Eighteen age- and gender-matched individuals without PLEs were also recruited to provide data of intact movements. Results showed that RAS may reduce severity of movement slowing and irregular muscle contraction in individuals with PLEs. This pilot study is one of the pioneering studies validating effectiveness of early intervention programs tackling movement abnormalities, which are initial impairments in the psychosis continuum, in individuals with PLEs.

People with psychotic experiences (PE) have movement abnormalities, including slow movements and uncontrolled movements, which are indicative of transition to psychotic disorders. Rhythmic auditory cueing (RAC) has been indicated to be a promising therapeutic technique for movement abnormalities in people in the psychosis continuum; however, small sample size limited the strength of that conclusion. The aims of our study were to increase the sample size, adopt a repeated measures design, and examine if faster RAC induced faster movements and less uncontrolled movements in both hands in people with PE. A total of 55 people with PE and 55 people without PE were recruited to use the index finger to perform an alternate touching task for each hand while a motion capture system recorded the movement procedure. The subjects were required to follow each beat of the RAC with an individualized original tempo and an individualized fast tempo, the order of which was counterbalanced, when performing the alternate touching task. Faster RAC induced faster movements and less uncontrolled movements in both hands in people with PE. Extensive neural connections between the auditory and motor-related cortices may explain RAC effects on movements in people with PE, who have alterations of basal ganglia and the cerebellum.

Slow movements and irregular muscle contraction have been reported separately in different studies targeting individuals with psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). To date, it remains unknown whether these two movement abnormalities, possibly associated with hypo- and hyper-dopaminergia, respectively, co-existed in one sample with PLEs and interrelated in the early stage of psychotic progression. Therefore, this study was to examine if facial and upper-limb slow movements and irregular muscle contraction co-existed in individuals with PLEs, interrelated, and were associated with PLEs. A total of 26 individuals with PLEs, who were identified using the 16-item Prodromal Questionnaire, and 26 age- and gender-matched healthy controls received the facial and upper-limb movement measurement. A motion capture system was used to record the movement procedure and thus calculate kinematic variables that represented severity of slow movements and irregular muscle contraction. Results showed that facial and upper-limb slow movements and facial irregular muscle contraction existed in individuals with PLEs. For the total sample, slower facial movements were associated with less regular facial muscle contraction; slower upper-limb movements were associated with less regular upper-limb muscle contraction. Slower and less regular facial and upper-limb movements were associated with more severe PLEs. Compensatory changes in dopaminergic neural pathways in response to elevated dopamine might explain connection between slow movements and irregular muscle contraction. Because of the ability to detect facial and upper-limb movement abnormalities objectively and sensitively, motion analysis has great applicability to sensorimotor studies for people in the psychosis continuum.

BackgroundCulture is inevitably linked with the experience, interpretation and course of what modern biomedicine understands to be psychotic symptoms. However, data on psychoses in low- and middle-income countries are sparse. Our previous study showed that psychotic and mood-related experiences, symptoms and disorders are common among individuals who had received the ancestral calling to become a traditional health practitioner (THP) in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Our related ethnographic study suggested that ukuthwasa (the training to become a THP) may positively moderate these calling-related symptoms. As far as we know, no research has been conducted into the course of psychiatric symptoms among apprentice THPs.ObjectiveWe studied the course of psychotic experiences, symptoms and disorders among apprentice THPs. We also assessed their level of functioning and expanded our knowledge on ukuthwasa.Materials and methodsWe performed a 3-year follow-up of a baseline sample of apprentice THPs (n = 48). Psychiatric assessments (CAPE, SCAN), assessment of functioning (WHODAS) and a semi-structured qualitative questionnaire were completed for 42 individuals.ResultsAt 3-year follow-up, psychotic experiences were associated with significantly less distress and there was a reduction in frequency of psychotic symptoms compared to baseline. The number of participants with psychotic disorders had decreased from 7 (17%) to 4 (10%). Six out of seven participants (86%) with a psychotic disorder at baseline no longer had a psychiatric diagnosis at follow-up. Although the mean level of disability among the (apprentice) THPs corresponded with the 78th percentile found in the general population, 37 participants (88%) reported no or mild disability. Forty-one participants (98%) reported that ukuthwasa had positively influenced their psychiatric symptoms.ConclusionIn rural KwaZulu-Natal, psychotic experiences, symptoms and disorders have a benign course in most individuals who are undergoing the process of becoming a THP. Ukuthwasa may be an effective, culturally sanctioned, healing intervention for some selected individuals, potentially because it reframes distressing experiences into positive and highly valued experiences, reduces stigma, and enhances social empowerment and identity construction. This implies that cultural and spiritual interventions can have a positive influence on the course of psychosis.

Functional Movement Training for Recurrent Low Back Pain: Lessons From a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aimed to investigate the effects of 8-week functional movement training on batting kinematics and Functional Movement Screen (FMS) score in young baseball athletes with a composite FMS score of ≤14. A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 26 male junior high school baseball players (chronological age 13.52y [0.66]; predicted age at peak height velocity 13.68y [0.42]), randomly assigned to an experimental (performing functional movement training), or, a control group (performing routine training). Batting kinematics were assessed using a 3-dimensional motion analysis system, and FMS score was evaluated using the FMS test. Both outcomes were measured before and after training. The experimental group significantly improved batting time and velocity and FMS score after training when compared with the control group. However, there were no significant changes in the other kinematic parameters between the experimental and control groups. Eight-week functional movement training demonstrated positive effects on batting performance and movement quality in adolescent baseball players with poor movement quality and core control. Further research is warranted to investigate the biomechanical mechanisms underlying these improvements.

from the perspective of the movement chain of human body, this paper analyzes the training of human functional movement, and emphasizes the unity of consciousness and muscle in the process of movement training. Hopefully through the analysis, the paper can be useful, it can be helpful for athletes and sports enthusiasts in functional movement training.

This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a specific functional movement–power training (FMPT) program, a functional movement training (FMT) program and no training in the improvement of balance strategies, and neuromuscular performance in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD).It was a randomized, single-blinded, parallel group controlled trial.Methods: 161 children with DCD (age: 6–10 years) were randomly assigned to the FMPT, FMT, or control groups. The 2 intervention groups received FMPT or FMT twice a week for 3 months. Measurements were taken before, after, and 3 months after the end of the intervention period. The primary outcomes were the composite score and strategy scores on the sensory organization test as measured by a computerized dynamic posturography machine. Secondary outcomes included the knee muscle peak force and the time taken to reach the peak force.The balance strategies adopted in sensory challenging environments of the FMPT participants showed greater improvement from baseline to posttest than those of the FMT participants (7.10 points; 95% confidence interval, 1.51–12.69; P = 0.008) and the control participants (7.59 points; 95% confidence interval, 1.81–13.38; P = 0.005). The FMPT participants also exhibited greater improvement from baseline to the posttest in the knee extensor peak force and time to peak force in the knee flexors.The FMPT program was more effective than the conventional FMT program in the enhancement of balance strategies and neuromuscular performance in children with DCD.

Twenty students majoring in table tennis from the School of Physical Education were randomly divided into an Experimental Group (EG) and a Control Group (CG), and a functional movement training program was designed based on the students’ test data from the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), combined with the specific characteristics of table tennis. The experimental program was implemented for the experimental group in the preparation of classroom instruction. After 60 hours of experimental instruction, the FMS and special techniques test scores before and after the instruction experiment were statistically analyzed with the aid of Microsoft Excel 2007 and SPSS 20.0 using paired-samples and independent-samples T-test. The results showed that, first, the teaching program based on dynamic stretching and core exercise could significantly improve the FMS scores of undergraduate students specialized in table tennis; second, the 16-week functional teaching program could improve the hitting rate and movement quality of these students. It is recommended that the instruction of table tennis specialties in physical education introduce functional movement diagnosis and functional movement preparation training, coupled with functional strength exercises, to improve teaching effectiveness and efficiency, reduce sports injuries, and improve students’ self-diagnosis, training ability and level, thus enhancing the core competitiveness of physical education undergraduates in employment.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between core stability, functional movement, and performance. Twenty-eight healthy individuals (age = 24.4 ± 3.9 yr, height = 168.8 ± 12.5 cm, mass = 70.2 ± 14.9 kg) performed several tests in 3 categories: core stability (flexion [FLEX], extension [EXT], right and left lateral [LATr/LATl]), functional movement screen (FMS) (deep squat [DS], trunk-stability push-up [PU], right and left hurdle step [HSr/HSl], in-line lunge [ILLr/ILLl], shoulder mobility [SMr/SMl], active straight leg raise [ASLRr/ASLRl], and rotary stability [RSr/RSl]), and performance tests (backward medicine ball throw [BOMB], T-run [TR], and single leg squat [SLS]). Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. There were significant correlations between SLS and FLEX (r = 0.500), LATr (r = 0.495), and LATl (r = 0.498). The TR correlated significantly with both LATr (r = 0.383) and LATl (r = 0.448). Of the FMS, BOMB was significantly correlated with HSr (r = 0.415), SMr (r = 0.388), PU (r = 0.407), and RSr (r = 0.391). The TR was significantly related with HSr (r = 0.518), ILLl (r = 0.462) and SMr (r = 0.392). The SLS only correlated significantly with SMr (r = 0.446). There were no significant correlations between core stability and FMS. Moderate to weak correlations identified suggest core stability and FMS are not strong predictors of performance. In addition, existent assessments do not satisfactorily confirm the importance of core stability on functional movement. Despite the emphasis fitness professionals have placed on functional movement and core training for increased performance, our results suggest otherwise. Although training for core and functional movement are important to include in a fitness program, especially for injury prevention, they should not be the primary emphasis of any training program.

Broadening the Parameters of Clinical High Risk for Psychosis.

The present study explores the effects of FMS functional movement training on aerobic athletes' body posture coordination, and explores the application of FMS functional movement training to the promotion of aerobic athletes' physical performance. In aerobic exercise, body posture control ability is an important criterion for the expression of technical movements, the display of form art aesthetics, and the evaluation of aerobic competition performance. Physical training is the most basic way to improve body posture control, and FMS functional movement training is an emerging physical training mode in recent years, which attaches more importance to functional training than traditional physical training, does not improve athletes' self-confidence in a purposeful way, and has a relatively good improvement effect on technical movements with relatively high movement requirements.40 college aerobic athletes were randomly divided into two groups: Traditional physical training Group (T, N=20) and FMS functional movement training Group (F, N=20). The control group adopts the traditional physical training method, and the functional training group adopts the training method based on the functional movement design of FMS. The results showed that compared with before training, after the traditional physical training group and the FMS functional movement training group intervened, the subjects' FMS test improved significantly in all six motility movements (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference in the straight bow squat and active orthogonal lifting test (P>0.05). The body posture coordination in the dynamic movement and static movement of aerobics was significantly improved only in the FMS functional movement training group (P<0.05).Conclusion: FMS functional training can relatively well promote aerobic athletes' body control ability and body posture coordination in the movement process, which is suitable for further application and dissemination in the physical fitness training of college aerobic athletes.After 12 weeks of training, the scores of various indicators of the experimental group were significantly higher than those of the control group before the experiment, and the results of the FMS test were significantly improved; the effect of the experimental group was better than that of the control group, reducing the incidence of exercise damage; the physical stability, flexibility and asymmetry of the experimental group athletes were improved, but the effect on active right angle rise and straight lunge squat was not obvious. In the body posture control ability test under the static movement plane change condition, the 8-step ventral bridge, 5-step lateral bridge and hexagonal bridge of the experimental group and the control group showed significant differences, and the experimental configuration results were better than the control group, and the before-and-after comparison of the experimental group was significant.It shows that FMS functional movement training can improve the body posture control ability of aerobic athletes in the static movement plane. In the test of aerobic athletes' body posture control ability under the condition of dynamic movement direction change, the results show that the improvement effect of the T-shaped, W-shaped and Y-shaped tests of aerobic combination steps of the experimental group before and after the experiment is better than that of the control group, and each indicator has a significant difference within the group, indicating that FMS functional movement training has improved the body posture control ability of aerobic athletes.

Both involuntary dyskinetic movements and psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are reported to be antecedents of schizophrenia that may reflect dysfunctional dopaminergic activity in the striatum. The present study compared dyskinetic movement abnormalities displayed by children with multiple antecedents of schizophrenia (ASz), including speech and/or motor developmental lags or problems, internalising/externalising problems in the clinical range, and PLEs, with those displayed by children with no antecedents (noASz). The sample included 21 ASz and 31 noASz children, aged 9-12 years old. None had taken psychotropic medication or had relatives with psychosis. The antecedents of schizophrenia were assessed using questionnaires completed by children and caregivers. A trained rater, blind to group status, coded dyskinetic movement abnormalities using a validated tool from videotapes of interviews with the children. ASz children reported, on average, 'certain experience' of 2.5 PLEs, while noASz children, by definition, reported none. The ASz children, as compared with noASz children, displayed significantly more dyskinetic movement abnormalities in total, and in the facial and the upper-body regions, after controlling for sex and age. Receiver operator characteristics analyses yielded high area under the curve values for the total score (0.94), facial score (0.91) and upper-body score (0.86), indicating that these scores distinguished between the ASz and noASz children with great accuracy. Brief questionnaires identified children with multiple antecedents of schizophrenia who displayed significantly more involuntary dyskinetic movement abnormalities than children without antecedents. The presence of PLEs and dyskinesias could reflect early disruption of striatal dopamine circuits.

The goal of this project is to develop a means for individuals with stroke to practice arm movement therapy at home with remote monitoring. We previously developed a Web-based system for repetitive movement training (Java Therapy). This paper describes a new input device for the system that measures and assists in naturalistic arm movement, as well as software enhancements. The new input device is an instrumented, adult-sized version of Wilmington robotic exoskeleton (WREX), which is a five degrees-of-freedom orthosis that counterbalances the weight of the arm using elastic bands. To test the ability of the new device (Training-WREX or "T-WREX") to measure and assist in functional arm movements, we measured five chronic stroke subjects' movement ability while wearing the orthosis without gravity balance compared to wearing the orthosis with gravity balance. T-WREX's gravity balance function improved a clinical measure of arm movement (Fugl-Meyer Score), range of motion of reaching movements, and accuracy of drawing movements. Coupled with an enhanced version of Java Therapy, T-WREX will thus provide a means to assist functional arm movement training at home, either over the Web in real-time, or stand-alone with periodic communication with a remote site.

This proposed study will examine whether structured physical activity reduces the recovery time of cognitive functioning during the early phase of substance use disorder treatment. Addiction or substance dependence is associated with neurobiological changes and cognitive impairment that can affect quality of life and the efficacy of therapy for up to a year after clinical detoxification. The biological, psychological, and social effects of physical exercise have the potential to be a therapeutic approach to increase quality of life and relieve symptoms associated with substance abuse, such as psychosis, depression, and anxiety. There is a dearth of research on physical activity and exercise in clinical substance use disorder patients. This protocol describes a clinical study that will examine cognitive recovery after substance abuse using physical exercise as a treatment intervention. We will use a quasi-experimental longitudinal clinical trial, with a pretest and multiple posttests, on naturally randomized sequential groups. Patients will be consecutively be recruited into the study groups, with a control group that is completed, before its followed by an intervention group, each with 30 patients. Patients will be enrolled 2 weeks after the start of detoxification, at which time all subjects will be inpatients at the Stavanger Salvation Army Treatment Center in the Norwegian specialized healthcare system. Cognition will be evaluated with a comprehensive battery of cognitive tests, including several tests of executive function. Physical fitness will be tested with the Rockport 1-Mile Walk Test, the 30-S Chair Stand Test, the 1-Min Burpee Test at baseline (within the first 2 weeks of admittance) and after 4 weeks. The intervention will be a 30-min workout at 70–90% of maximum heart rate (134–170 bpm), recorded and calculated by a Polar heart rate monitor. The intervention treatment will be administered four times a week for 4 weeks and will consist of high-intensity circuit training, high-intensity interval training, functional movement, and primitive reflex training. We anticipate improvement in both the control and intervention groups, with the exercise intervention group having the greatest increase in recovery of cognitive function because of the combination of functional full body movements and primitive movement training in an intense interval training program.Clinical Trial Registration ID: ISRCTN74750479, Retrospectively Registered.