Body Movements Research Articles

Comparison of the effects of mechanical hippotherapy and Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises in patients with multiple sclerosis: Randomized trial

BackgroundPatients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) commonly encounter heightened postural instability and challenges in aligning their eyes, head, and bodily motions while engaging in specific tasks. This study aims to compare the effects of Cawthorne-Cooksey and mechanical hippotherapy exercises on fatigue, balance, gait, dizziness, and life quality in patients with MS. MethodsThe MS patients were randomly divided into Cawthorne-Cooksey (n:25) and mechanical hippotherapy exercise (n:25) groups. In addition to the traditional physical therapy program, Cawthorne-Cooksey and hippotherapy exercises were applied to the groups 3 days a week, for 8 weeks. The trial's clinical number is NCT06005909. The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), Dizziness Handicap Inventory, Tinetti Balance and Gait Assessment Scale, and Ferrans&Powers Quality-of-Life Index were used for pre-and post-treatment assessment. ResultsBoth groups exhibited a significant decrease in FSS, FIS, and Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores, as well as an increase in Tinetti Balance and Gait Assessment Scale and Ferrans&Powers Quality-of-Life Index scores following treatment. In the inter-group comparison, the Tinetti balance and gait assessment and the Ferrans&Powers quality of life index scores were higher in the hippotherapy group compared to the Cooksey group. ConclusionsAlthough both forms of physical activity have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing fatigue among individuals with MS, hippotherapy shows superior efficacy in enhancing balance, gait, and overall quality of life.

Free-standing graphene oxide/carboxymethyl cellulose paper-based triboelectric nanogenerator for self-powered motion sensor

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) are innovative energy-harnessing devices that serve as potential power sources for small portable electronics, operating on the principle of electrostatic induction. In this study, we demonstrate the fabrication of paper-like flexible graphene oxide/carboxymethyl cellulose (GO/CMC) composite film and their use as a tribo-positive layer in the TENG with fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) film as the tribo-negative layer. The GO/CMC TENG possesses high-energy harvesting performance compared to the bare CMC-based TENG that is due to the increase in surface charge of CMC due to the inclusion of GO sheets, as analyzed using Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM). The GO/CMC TENG device demonstrates an output voltage of 97 V and a short-circuit current of 1.2 µA, achieving a peak power of 41.4 µW, notably higher compared to state-of-the-art TENG devices. As a proof-of-concept, we also demonstrated the practical applicability of the GO/CMC TENG in day-to-day life for monitoring the human body motions and to drive portable electric devices, which ensures their candidature towards next-generation self-powered systems.

Pelaksanaan Metode Storytelling dalam Meningkatkan Hasil Belajar Peserta Didik

The lecture method in the teaching and learning process has been developed into the storytelling method to address the inefficiency of PAI learning at SDN 13 Sungai Betung, thereby stimulating the activity, courage, and skills of students, both individually and in groups. This research uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach (Hanel, 2013). To select informants, the researcher uses purposive sampling technique based on specific considerations or criteria. The informants in this study are the principal, the curriculum vice principal, the Islamic Education teacher, and five fifth-grade students chosen based on class rankings and teacher recommendations. Data collection techniques include interviews, observations, and documentation, while data analysis is carried out through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The implementation of the storytelling method involves the preparation of visual aids such as laptops, projectors, and animated videos, as well as classroom setup. The teacher must ensure the classroom is prepared, convey the learning objectives according to the Lesson Plan (RPP) and syllabus, and use storytelling by paying attention to eye contact, facial expressions, vocal emphasis, and body movements in sync with the animated videos. The success of this method heavily relies on the preparation of media, classroom readiness, and the teacher's storytelling skills, making the learning process engaging, effective, and easy for students to understand.

Self-Powered Hybrid Motion and Health Sensing System Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerators.

Triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) represents an effective approach for the conversion of mechanical energy into electrical energy and has been explored to combine multiple technologies in past years. Self-powered sensors are not only free from the constraints of mechanical energy in the environment but also capable of efficiently harvesting ambient energy to sustain continuous operation. In this review, the remarkable development of TENG-based human body sensing achieved in recent years is presented, with a specific focus on human health sensing solutions, such as body motion and physiological signal detection. The movements originating from different parts of the body, such as body, touch, sound, and eyes, are systematically classified, and a thorough review of sensor structures and materials is conducted. Physiological signal sensors are categorized into non-implantable and implantable biomedical sensors for discussion. Suggestions for future applications of TENG-based biomedical sensors are also indicated, highlighting the associated challenges.

Ultrasensitive, Highly Stable, and Stretchable Strain Sensor Using Gated Liquid Metal Channel

AbstractDeveloping stretchable strain sensors with high sensitivity and stability is crucial for various applications such as prosthetic hands, human health monitoring, and human‐machine interactions. However, achieving these qualities simultaneously remains challenging. Here, an inherently stretchable strain sensor is presented that integrates ultrahigh sensitivity and robust stability, enabling stretch, press, or bend sensing capabilities. This sensor employs a softer elastomeric channel filled with liquid metal (LM) as the conductive path. A stiffer elastomer convex integrated into the channel serves as a strain‐manipulated gate, controlling opening gap of electrical current flow path. During deformation, the softer elastomer undergoes cross sectional reduction due to the Poisson effect, while the stiffer convex gate retains its geometry. This heterogeneous deformation behavior leads to significant contraction or closure of the LM channel, resulting in increased resistance and a remarkable enhancement in sensitivity by more than two orders of magnitude. The all‐soft design maintains exceptional stability even under extended or repetitive substantial deformations. With the ability to monitor subtle and large human body movements, detect grip actions of soft grippers reliably, and monitor the gradual and extended growth process of plants, this sensor holds significant potential for advancements in flexible electronics.

Superelastic wood‐based nanogenerators magnifying the piezoelectric effect for sustainable energy conversion

AbstractIn the quest for sustainable energy materials, wood is discovered to be a potential piezoelectric material. However, the rigidity, poor stability, and low piezoelectric properties of wood impede its development. Here, we obtained a superelastic roasted wood nanogenerator (RW‐NG) by unraveling ray tissues through a sustainable roasting strategy. The increased compressibility of roasted wood intensifies the deformation of cellulose microfibrils, significantly enhancing the piezoelectric effect in wood. Roasted wood (15 × 15 × 15 mm3, longitudinal × radial × tangential) can generate a voltage and current outputs of 1.4 V and 14.5 nA, respectively, which are more than 70 times that of natural wood. The wood sample can recover 90% of its shape after 5000 compressions at 65% strain, exhibiting excellent elasticity and stability. Importantly, roasted wood does not add any toxic substances and can be safely applied on the human skin as a self‐powered sensor for detecting body movements. Moreover, it can also be assembled into self‐powered wooden floors for energy harvesting. These indicate that roasted wood has great potential for sustainable sensing and energy conversion.

Skeleton-aware Graph-based Adversarial Networks for Human Pose Estimation from Sparse IMUs

Recently, sparse-inertial human pose estimation (SI-HPE) with only a few IMUs has shown great potential in various fields. The most advanced work in this area achieved fairish results using only six IMUs. However, there are still two major issues that remain to be addressed. First, existing methods typically treat SI-HPE as a temporal sequential learning problem and often ignore the important spatial prior of skeletal topology. Second, there are far more synthetic data in their training data than real data, and the data distribution of synthetic data and real data is quite different, which makes it difficult for the model to be applied to more diverse real data. To address these issues, we propose “Graph-based Adversarial Inertial Poser (GAIP)”, which tracks body movements using sparse data from six IMUs. To make full use of the spatial prior, we design a multi-stage pose regressor with graph convolution to explicitly learn the skeletal topology. A joint position loss is also introduced to implicitly mine spatial information. To enhance the generalization ability, we propose supervising the pose regression with an adversarial loss from a discriminator, bringing the ability of adversarial networks to learn implicit constraints into full play. Additionally, we construct a real dataset that includes hip support movements and a synthetic dataset containing various motion categories to enrich the diversity of inertial data for SI-HPE. Extensive experiments demonstrate that GAIP produces results with more precise limb movement amplitudes and relative joint positions, accompanied by smaller joint angle and position errors compared to state-of-the-art counterparts. The datasets and codes are publicly available at https://cslinzhang.github.io/GAIP/ .

Development of an ICT Laparoscopy System with Motion-Tracking Technology for Solo Laparoscopic Surgery: A Feasibility Study

The increasing demand for laparoscopic surgery due to its cosmetic benefits and rapid post-surgery recovery is juxtaposed with a shortage of surgical support staff. This juxtaposition highlights the necessity for improved camera management in laparoscopic procedures, encompassing positioning, zooming, and focusing. Our feasibility study introduces the information and communications technology (ICT) laparoscopy system designed to aid solo laparoscopic surgery. This system tracks a surgeon’s body motion using a controller, manipulating an embedded camera to focus on specific surgical areas. It comprises a camera module, a camera movement controller, and a motor within the main body, operating connected wires according to controller commands for camera movement. Surgeon movements are detected by an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor, facilitating precise camera control. Additional features include a foot pedal switch for motion tracking, a dedicated trocar for main body stability, and a display module. The system’s effectiveness was evaluated using an abdomen phantom model and animal experimentation with a porcine model. The camera responded to human movement within 100 ms, a delay that does not significantly affect procedural performance. The ICT laparoscopy system with advanced motion-tracking technology is a promising tool for solo laparoscopic surgery, potentially improving surgical outcomes and overcoming staff shortages.

Eighty Years after Mystici Corporis Christi: Rereading Mystical Body Theology in the Early Twentieth Century

Contemporary interpreters of the mystical body movement in the early twentieth century often refer to works therein as mystical body “ecclesiologies” and tend to identify distinctions among them according to the author’s language or nationality. In this article, I argue that the differences among mystical body theologies in that era are better understood according to theological locus—of “mystical body” as either an ecclesiological or a christological-soteriological concept. This framework best explains the paradoxical evaluations of the mystical body movement more broadly, and the encyclical Mystici Corporis Christi in particular, as simultaneously too vague and too juridical.

Multifunctional roles of TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils on the enhancement of mechanical and conductive properties of acrylic-based hydrogels for temperature response and human motion sensing

Simultaneously having competitive mechanical properties, fatigue-resistant stability, temperature adaptability, excellent conductivity and sensitivity has been a challenge in the design of acrylic-based conductive hydrogels if they are meant for application in electronic skin mimics capable of sensory and stimulus responses. In this work, an acrylic-based conductive hydrogel with both excellent mechanical and electrical properties was prepared based on an integrated strategy employing the multifunctionality of TEMPO-oxidized CNFs (TOCNFs) and metal ion interaction. The TOCNFs with their abundant –COOH groups played a key role in the hydrogel by a) well-dispersing polyacrylic acid (PAA) chains in the hydrogel to form a homogeneous and porous multi-network, b) furnishing more –COOH to interact with Fe3+, c) forming more hydrogen bonds with PAA and glycerol, and d) offering high modulus to the final hydrogel. The obtained optimal hydrogel showed competitive mechanical properties (0.88 MPa at 70 % compressive strain; 0.24 MPa at 873 % tensile strain) and fatigue-resistant properties (56.5 % strength retention after 500 cycles of 50 % compression; 51.7 % strength retention after 20 cycles of 200 % tensile), high electrical conductivity (2.45 S m−1) and sensitivity (GF up to 2.62 for tensile strains over 100 %), while still maintaining a high electrical conductivity (1.67 S m−1) at −25 °C. Accordingly, the hydrogel prepared in this work was able to act as an electronic skin that responds to temperature variations and detect human body movement of pressing, writing, stretching and bending with highly sensitive conductive signals, which endows it great potential for applications in humanoid robotics and multi-scenario strain sensing.

Exploration of branches of physics for handling several cases in sports applications: A systematic literature review

The principles of physics have become a primary focus in the development of sensory technology and biomechanical analysis in the context of modern sports. This study aims to explore the contributions of physics in enhancing athlete performance and reducing injury risks. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to identify relevant empirical studies highlighting the role of physics in sports. Data were analyzed from Scopus database sources with criteria as specified in the SLR study and with the PRISMA method. Search strategies using predefined keywords referring to the current topic were employed. The results of the literature review indicate that the application of sensory technology and biomechanical analysis has provided profound insights into human body movements in sports. Technologies such as motion capture and 3D analysis have enabled the identification of specific aspects of athlete techniques that require improvement. Furthermore, real-time feedback from sensor technology has assisted in direct adjustments during training, potentially enhancing the quality of athlete techniques and reducing injury risks. Integrating the principles of physics in sports not only enhances athlete performance but also constitutes an integral part of injury prevention efforts and effective care. Thus, understanding and applying the principles of physics in the context of sports can provide significant benefits to athletes, coaches, and sports health professionals in efforts to enhance athlete well-being and performance. Keywords. Sports, biomechanics, kinematics, physics

Biocomposite silk fibroin hydrogel with stretchability, conductivity and biocompatibility for wireless strain sensor

As a natural biopolymer material, silk fibroin with unique mechanical properties can be used in the preparation of biocomposite hydrogels for strain sensors. But, the electromechanical properties of biocomposite hydrogel strain sensors are still insufficient, such as the deterioration of electrical signals and low sensitivity, which need to develop a hydrogel with a stable transmission network for electric conduction. Herein, a silk fibroin biocomposite hydrogel is prepared by incorporating tannic acid and MXene nanosheets into a polyacrylamide and silk fibroin double network. The electromechanical properties of hydrogels are improved by optimizing the proportion of material components. As a result, the double network structure and supramolecular interaction enhance the stretchability of hydrogels (692% fracture strain). The hydrogel also exhibits good biocompatibility and conductivity (0.85 S/m), which shows the application prospect in wearable sensors. The wireless strain sensor assembled by this biocomposite hydrogel presents good portability and sensing performance, such as high sensitivity (gauge factor = 6.04), wide working range (500% strain), and outstanding stability (1000 cycles at 100% strain). The results indicate that the hydrogel strain sensor can be used to monitor human body movement. The biocomposite hydrogel is expected to be applied in the field of wearable strain sensors, and this study can provide a new way for the design of flexible electronic materials.

Multifaceted consequences of visual distraction during natural behaviour

Visual distraction is a ubiquitous aspect of everyday life. Studying the consequences of distraction during temporally extended tasks, however, is not tractable with traditional methods. Here we developed a virtual reality approach that segments complex behaviour into cognitive subcomponents, including encoding, visual search, working memory usage, and decision-making. Participants copied a model display by selecting objects from a resource pool and placing them into a workspace. By manipulating the distractibility of objects in the resource pool, we discovered interfering effects of distraction across the different cognitive subcomponents. We successfully traced the consequences of distraction all the way from overall task performance to the decision-making processes that gate memory usage. Distraction slowed down behaviour and increased costly body movements. Critically, distraction increased encoding demands, slowed visual search, and decreased reliance on working memory. Our findings illustrate that the effects of visual distraction during natural behaviour can be rather focal but nevertheless have cascading consequences.

Physical Activity and Climacteric Symptoms Among Premenopause Women

Women experience physical changes before menopause. Women experience climacteric conditions caused by decreased reproductive hormones, so they experience the climacteric period. Climacteric is 4-5 years that occurs before menopause. Women experience problems during the climacteric period, such as hot flashes, sleep disorders, mood swings, and increased osteoporosis. Physical activity with conscious body movements produced by skeletal muscles requires energy expenditure. Physical activity includes all activities, with the intensity to help climacteric symptoms. This research aimed to identify the correlation between physical activity and climacteric symptoms. This research design used an analytical study with a cross-sectional approach. The sample was 72 women of premenopausal age, and it was obtained by cluster sampling. The research instrument was a questionnaire. The data analysis was the Kendal Tau test. The results of this study were 44.86 ± 3.041%, and the average number of children in this study was 2.76 ± 1.157%, elementary school education level was 47.2%, unemployed was 81.9%, respondents who did not use contraception hormonal and non-hormonal as many as 86.1%, respondents who did high physical activity were 93.1%, and respondents who did not have climacteric symptoms were 97.2%. The results of the Kendal Tau test showed a value (ρ value = 0.000), so there was a relationship between physical activity and climacteric symptoms in premenopausal women. In conclusion, physical activity has a relationship with climacteric symptoms in premenopausal women

The Body as Medium - Embodied Communication and Body Issues in Cloud Fitness

The "body turn" of "cloud fitness" has brought a new theoretical logic to communication. In this paper, we make a preliminary attempt at embodied communication in the context of the new Crown pneumonia epidemic, exploring the issues of body movement and moving bodies on "Shake" and "b-station". Here, the author argues that understanding embodied communication is inseparable from reflecting on technology, and that it is a form of communication in which people, media and technology interact. The article explores the changes of the philosophical category of bodily action in the virtual space of the Internet by tracing the origins of embodied communication; then understands the communication of the body as a medium through the "cloud space" and "cloud body"; and in the whole process of communication, the physical attributes of the body give the online and offline behaviors of the body a new meaning and a new meaning and a new meaning. In the whole process of communication, the physical attributes of the body bring tension to the online and offline actors; in the future, with the advent of the scene-oriented era, the body will have multiple symbolic attributes.

Concept of Child Development Theory Based on Perceptional and Motor Domains

Children's motor development is very important because children are confident in their environment, including when playing with their friends, children who grow and develop without motor skills will become inferior in carrying out tasks related to their skills. The aim of this research is to provide illustrated abilities in completing certain motor tasks, to provide the ability to be able to train children's body movements during motor development and to hone children's fine and gross motor skills. The method used by the author is a literature review analysis. In the process of motor perception, environmental stimuli that are relevant to movement are recognized, appropriate movement information is sent in the form of output to the muscles to produce various types of movement. Up to the fine and gross motoric stages, perceptual motor skills are also very important in improving children's motor skills and academic abilities.

Development of a Low-Cost Markerless Optical Motion Capture System for Gait Analysis and Anthropometric Parameter Quantification.

Technological advancements have expanded the range of methods for capturing human body motion, including solutions involving inertial sensors (IMUs) and optical alternatives. However, the rising complexity and costs associated with commercial solutions have prompted the exploration of more cost-effective alternatives. This paper presents a markerless optical motion capture system using a RealSense depth camera and intelligent computer vision algorithms. It facilitates precise posture assessment, the real-time calculation of joint angles, and acquisition of subject-specific anthropometric data for gait analysis. The proposed system stands out for its simplicity and affordability in comparison to complex commercial solutions. The gathered data are stored in comma-separated value (CSV) files, simplifying subsequent analysis and data mining. Preliminary tests, conducted in controlled laboratory environments and employing a commercial MEMS-IMU system as a reference, revealed a maximum relative error of 7.6% in anthropometric measurements, with a maximum absolute error of 4.67 cm at average height. Stride length measurements showed a maximum relative error of 11.2%. Static joint angle tests had a maximum average error of 10.2%, while dynamic joint angle tests showed a maximum average error of 9.06%. The proposed optical system offers sufficient accuracy for potential application in areas such as rehabilitation, sports analysis, and entertainment.

Full-body kinematics and head stabilisation strategies during walking in patients with chronic unilateral and bilateral vestibulopathy

Chronic imbalance is a frequent and limiting symptom of patients with chronic unilateral and bilateral vestibulopathy. A full-body kinematic analysis of the movement of patients with vestibulopathy would provide a better understanding of the impact of the pathology on dynamic tasks such as walking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the global body movement during walking, its variability (assessed with the GaitSD), and the strategies to stabilise the head (assessed with the head Anchoring Index). The full-body motion capture data of 10 patients with bilateral vestibulopathy (BV), 10 patients with unilateral vestibulopathy (UV), and 10 healthy subjects (HS) walking at several speeds (slow, comfortable, and fast) were analysed in this prospective cohort study. We observed only a few significant differences between groups in parts of the gait cycle (shoulder abduction–adduction, pelvis rotation, and hip flexion–extension) during the analysis of kinematic curves. Only BV patients had significantly higher gait variability (GaitSD) for all three walking speeds. Head stabilisation strategies depended on the plan of motion and walking speed condition, but BV and UV patients tended to stabilise their head in relation to the trunk and HS tended to stabilise their head in space. These results suggest that GaitSD could be a relevant biomarker of chronic instability in BV and that the head Anchoring Index tends to confirm clinical observations of abnormal head-trunk dynamics in patients with vestibulopathy while walking.

Introduction to the assessment and management of persistent postural-perceptual dizziness.

Persistent postural-perceptual dizziness classifies patients with chronic dizziness, often triggered by an acute episode of vestibular dysfunction or threat to balance. Unsteadiness and spatial disorientation vary in intensity but persist for over three months, exacerbated by complex visual environments. Literature suggests diagnosis relies on a clinical history of persistent subjective dizziness and normal vestibular and neurological examination findings. Behavioural diagnostic biomarkers have been proposed, to facilitate diagnosis. Research has focused on understanding the neural mechanisms that underpin this perceptual disorder, with imaging data supporting altered connectivity between neural brain networks that process vision, motion and emotion. Behavioural research identified the perceptual and motor responses to a heightened perception of imbalance. Management utilises head and body motion detection, and downregulation of visual motion excitability, reducing postural hypervigilance and anxiety. Combinations of physical and cognitive therapies, with antidepressant medications, help if the condition is associated with mood disorder.

Dizziness-related disability in persons with post-COVID condition: A cross sectional study.

Dizziness is a common symptom in post-COVID condition (PCC) which may have a large impact on several life domains. However, knowledge on dizziness-severity and disability in PCC is sparse. The aim was to describe the severity of dizziness-related disability in individuals with PCC, and how it is manifested in daily life. A questionnaire regarding symptoms of PCC, health, and dizziness-related handicap was administered online, and 524 persons with PCC and dizziness were included. Mean score of the Dizziness Handicap Inventory was 35.2 (24.0) and 51.8%, were classified as having moderate/severe dizziness-related disability. The percentage of maximum value for the subscales were: Physical manifestation, 48%, Emotional Impact, 36% and Catastrophic Impact, 17%. The greatest influence on physical movements was when bending forward, head shaking or doing strenuous physical activities or household chores. Half had moderate or severe dizziness-related disability and the physical manifestations occurred mostly during specific or strenuous body movements. This indicate a vestibular impairment that may be effectively managed with vestibular rehabilitation. Assessment and treatment of dizziness might be an essential part in PCC rehabilitation and future research should continue to explore the potential causal pathways of dizziness in PCC.