Range Of Human Motions Research Articles

REWoD-based vibrational energy harvesting exploiting saline-solutions loaded PAAm hydrogels on micro-structured aluminium oxides electrodes

Nowadays, sensors are among the most exploited systems in everyday life, with widespread applications stimulating increasing research. Usually, they require external power, thus adding issues such as periodic maintenance and size constraints. Energy harvesting (EH) from mechanical vibrations (VEH) can overcome such limitations: in particular, Reverse Electrowetting on Dielectric (REWoD) can provide a high-power density of ∼µW/cm2 by exploiting the mechanical modulation of the capacitance at the liquid/dielectric interface without additional external bias. Compared with other vibrational EH (VEH) techniques, REWoD harvests energy efficiently even from very low-frequency vibrations (<10 Hz,the range of human motion), and it is one of the most promising technologies for miniaturisation. Here we present a feasibility study and proof of concept for a portable VEH device, exploiting low-cost materials such as highly hydrophobic micro-structured Al oxide electrodes combined with off-the-shelf polyacrylamide (PAAm) hydrogels loaded with saline solutions. The PAAm hydrogels, thanks to heat treatment in LiCl solution, exhibit a negligible degradation compared to the typical hydrogel drying time. A laboratory prototype using 3 hydrogel hemispheres simultaneously generated an average power of ∼1.55 μW at 7 Hz with a power density of 9.1 nW/μl.

Development of the Wireless Goniometer in Measuring Range of Motion for Lower Extremities

Human range of motion (ROM) is a measurement of human movement capability in the kinesiology study. To measure ROM a device known as goniometer is used specifically in the joint angle measurement. However, the current measurement is manually measured in static condition was performed by the traditional goniometer device which operated in an analog scale. Therefore, the objective of this project is to develop a wearable electronic goniometer that integrates with Arduino microcontroller that sense and record the motion of patient’s knee wirelessly. Device will display the motion of knee joint angle through Android mobile phone via Bluetooth module either in static or in dynamic conditions. In this case, potentiometer will act as a rotation sensor by interpreting the analog data obtained by Arduino. The potentiometer is attached to patient’s leg will measure the knee joint angle as potentiometer rotated. The knee flexion angle was selected for analyses due to the importance of identifying the knee osteoarthritis problem in the lower extremities. In fact an experiment was conducted on the treadmill under walking condition with 1.5 km/h speed. Results obtained from the device will be compared with the motion analysis data that will be recorded using high speed camera and Kinovea software specifically for angle measurement. It indicates that both methods can be used in determine ROM and the difference between data collected by both methods is just below than 3.4%. Hence, this study is potentially beneficial for the wireless monitoring system that can be applied in the sport and rehabilitation applications.

Prediction Of Lactate Threshold By Physiological Variables Utilizing Human Motion During Exercise

Running at Lactate threshold (LT) for training is a frequent training method used by healthy and elite athletes. However, LT determination is usually done in the laboratory with an invasive method. PURPOSE: To predict LT by physiological variables utilizing human motion during exercise. METHODS: 12 male athletes (Age: 23.6±1.8years, Percentage (%) body fat: 12.4±3.3%, height: 173.4±4.7cm, weight: 68.2±5.8kg, bone mineral content: 2738.6±252g and lean mass: 56233.7±4751.4g) completed an incremental discontinuous submaximal to exhaustion protocol on the treadmill. VO2 ml*kg-1*min-1 was determined at every stage and VO2max ml*kg-1*min-1 was determined at volitional exhaustion. Human motion, blood lactate, heart rate (HR), VO2 and Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) were constantly measured. RESULTS: Among the 32 human motions, 8 human motions (4 on left leg and 4 on right leg) demonstrated strong relationship (correlation r > 0.700) to human bioenergetics during running. The range of human motion on left leg (10 % - 70 %) significantly varies than right leg (5 % - 15 %) due the right leg being dominant. Two human motions had the highest correlation with human bioenergetics 1) the angle between left (thigh & leg) phase 1 and 2) (r = 0.908) and angle between right (thigh & leg) phase 3 (r = 0.858). The equations derived with human motions (A) VO2 = (VO2 - 7.56)±10.83ml*kg-1*min-1 and (B) VO2 = (VO2-15.81)±15.76ml*kg-1*min-1 can be used to predict the VO2 at LT if VO2max is known. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicated that human motions have significant relationship with HR, VO2, and blood lactate during running at submaximal intensities. The human motion derived equation can predict VO2 at LT if VO2 at exhaustion is known without using a invasive method.

Cervical Vertebral Morphology and Neck Mobility in Gibbons (Hylobates lar) and Humans

The form and function of the primate cervical spine is poorly understood. Specifically, how the bony morphology of the cervical vertebrae facilitates spinal range of motion within primates is not known. Within mammals, primate cervical vertebrae present relatively unique morphologies, such as the uncinate processes. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between vertebral morphology and range of motion in the cervical spine of gibbons and humans. Vertebral morphology is variable within the cervical column (i.e. the morphology of C3 is different from that of C7). Range of motion also varies between intervertebral joints. These variations allow us to explore the relationship between form and function intraspecifically. We predict that range in flexion will be greater in vertebrae with taller bodies, extension inhibited by long spinous processes, and the range of lateral flexion will be lesser in vertebrae with longer transverse process length and taller uncinate processes. These hypotheses were tested using humans and gibbons (Hylobates lar).Morphological variables were quantified by digitizing cervical vertebral specimens (n=130) using a Microscribe 3DS and measured using Rhinoceros 3DM. Gibbon range of motion was measured from radiographs of maximum flexion, extension, and lateral flexion movements (n=1) and human range of motion was collected from the literature. Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression was used to test the intraspecific relationships between vertebral morphology and ranges of motion. In both gibbons and humans, regression results indicate a relationship between the range of lateral flexion and the length of the adjacent transverse process (p&lt;0.1) but no relationship between the other variables. It may be that soft tissue influences ranges of flexion and extension more so than bony morphology. It is also possible the intraspecific differences are too minute to show a significant pattern. An interspecific comparison could elucidate a pattern.Support or Funding InformationThis project was supported by the National Science Foundation's East Asia and Pacific Summer Program.

A functional variant within the MMP3 gene does not associate with human range of motion

A recent heritability study has demonstrated that human range of motion (ROM) has a substantial genetic component. Furthermore, the COL5A1 BstUI RFLP has now been identified as the first gene variant to be associated with human ROM. Interestingly, this variant is known to interact with a functional variant within the MMP3 gene (rs679620) to increase risk of Achilles tendinopathy. We sought to determine whether the MMP3 rs679620 variant was associated with ROM both as a single marker and as an interacting marker with the COL5A1 BstUI RFLP. One hundred and twenty one participants were included in this study. All participants were genotyped for the MMP3 rs679620 variant, and performed passive straight leg raise (SLR) and sit and reach (SR) measurements. There were no significant differences in left leg SLR (L-SLR), right leg SLR (R-SLR), or SR measurements between the genotype groups (L-SLR, P = 0.494; R-SLR, P = 0.435; SR, P = 0.266). Furthermore, there was no evidence of an interaction between the COL5A1 BstUI RFLP and the MMP3 rs679620 variant. Our study suggests that the MMP3 rs679620 variant does not associate with passive ROM.