Human Motor Function Research Articles

Neuroprotective Effect of Natural Indole and β-carboline Alkaloids against Parkinson's Disease: An Overview.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a devastating neurodegenerative condition that mostly damages dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and impairs human motor function. Males are more likely than females to have PD. There are two main pathways associated with PD: one involves the misfolding of α-synuclein, which causes neurodegeneration, and the other is the catalytic oxidation of dopamine via MAO-B, which produces hydrogen peroxide that can cause mitochondrial damage. Parkin (PRKN), α-synuclein (SNCA), heat shock protein (HSP), and leucine-rich repeat kinase-2 (LRRK2) are some of the target areas for genetic alterations that cause neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD). Under the impact of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), which is also important in Parkinson's disease (PD), inhibition of mitochondrial complex 1 results in enhanced ROS generation in neuronal cells. Natural products are still a superior option in the age of synthetic pharmaceuticals because of their lower toxicity and moderate side effects. A promising treatment for PD has been discovered using beta-carboline (also known as " β-carboline") and indole alkaloids. However, there are not many studies done on this particular topic. In the herbs containing β-carbolines and indoles, the secondary metabolites and alkaloids, β-carbolines and indoles, have shown neuroprotective and cognitive-enhancing properties. In this review, we have presented results from 18 years of research on the effects of indole and β-carboline alkaloids against oxidative stress and MAO inhibition, two key targets in PD. In the SAR analysis, the activity has been correlated with their unique structural characteristics. This study will undoubtedly aid researchers in looking for new PD treatment options.

Advancements and mechanisms of stem cell-based therapies for spinal cord injury in animals.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system (CNS) that can lead to permanent loss of sensation and voluntary movement beyond the affected area. Extensive preclinical and clinical trials have been conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of stem cells for the treatment of various CNS diseases or disorders, including SCI. However, several challenges hinder nerve cell regeneration in the injured spinal cord, such as extensive cell loss, limited neural cell regeneration capacity, axonal disruption, and the presence of growth-inhibiting molecules, particularly astroglial scarring or glial scars at the injury site in chronic cases. These obstacles pose significant challenges for physicians in restoring normal motor and sensory nerve function in both humans and animals following SCI. This review focuses on SCI pathogenesis, the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) in SCI, and the potential of stem cell-based therapies as promising avenues for treatment. This review article also included relevant preclinical and clinical data from animal studies.

Modulation of motor cortex inhibition during manual dexterity tasks: an adaptive threshold hunting study.

Background: The ability to perform intricate movements is crucial for human motor function. The neural mechanisms underlying precision and power grips are incompletely understood. Corticospinal output from M1 is thought to be modulated by GABAA-ergic intracortical networks within M1. Objectives: To investigate the contribution of M1 intracortical inhibition to fine motor control using adaptive threshold hunting with paired-pulse TMS during pinching and grasping tasks. We hypothesised that SICI could be assessed during voluntary activation, and that corticomotor excitability and SICI modulation would be greater during pinch than grasp reflecting corticospinal control. Methods: Seventeen healthy participants performed gradual pinch and grasp tasks. Using an adaptive threshold-hunting method, paired-pulse TMS was applied in the anterior-posterior current direction to assess cortical excitability and SICI in the dominant FDI muscle. SICI and corticomotor excitability were analysed using an LMM. MEP latencies were obtained in LM, PA and AP current directions and compared using paired t-tests. Results: MEP latencies were prolonged with PA and AP coil orientations compared to LM, with AP showing the largest latency. During single-pulse TMS, there was no difference in the TMS intensity required to reach the MEP target during pinching and grasping. Greater inhibition was found during pinching compared to grasping. Conclusion: ATH with paired-pulse TMS permits investigation of intracortical inhibitory networks and their modulation during the performance of dexterous motor tasks revealing a greater modulation of GABAA-ergic inhibition contributing to SICI during pinching compared to grasping.

Exploring age-related changes in motor function: insights from the peak decline found in Koji Awareness screening test

The KOJI AWARENESS (KA) screening test assesses motor function in humans. We aimed to analyze the correlation between age and KA screening scores and to identify the specific age at which a significant decline occurs. A total of 793 healthy participants (234 females) were interviewed for basic information on age and sex and completed the KA screening test. In addition to calculating the total score from the KA test, the scores were calculated for the neck-scapula-upper extremity-complex (NSU), trunk, and lower extremity (LE) segments. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to assess the validity of the test. Additionally, Bayesian linear regression was employed to estimate the change point in KA scores, facilitating the identification of a critical age associated with a notable decline in motor function. KA screening total and separate body segment scores were negatively correlated with age in both gender (for female and male, KA total score, ρ = − 0.443, ρ = − 0.344; NSU segment, ρ = − 0.431, ρ = − 0.427; trunk segment, ρ = − 0.210, ρ = − 0.473; LE segment: ρ = − 0.43, ρ = − 0.507). Furthermore, a change-point analysis using linear regression analysis showed that KA screening total scores declined sharply at the age of 49.1(95% credible interval: 37.503, 68.366). The result show that total KA scores decrease − 0.196 (95% credible interval: − 0.335, − 0.049) for every 1 year of age increase, and for ages over 49.1, total KA scores additionally decrease − 0.255 (95% credible interval: − 0.485, − 0.054) for every 1 year of age increase. In the NSU segment, females showed a more rapid decline than males from the age of 50 years. KA screening test total scores declined sharply at the age of 49.1. These results may be useful in setting treatment goals, exercise, and lifestyle programs for age-related decline in motor function.

Assessment of gnostic and stereognostic functions in patients with liver cirrhosis: A comparative study with healthy controls.

Individuals diagnosed with liver cirrhosis typically experience a variety of symptoms. Decompensation, a critical stage in the disease's progression, is characterized by the emergence of prominent clinical signs. These signs typically include ascites, bleeding tendencies, hepatic encephalopathy, and jaundice. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that regions in the sensorimotor cortex responsible for practical and gnostic functions are closely situated within the parieto-occipital part of the cortex. Liver cirrhosis may also have an impact on this aspect of human motor function. The main objective of the study is to compare the gnostic function and stereognostic function in individuals with liver cirrhosis and those in a healthy population. The patients included in our registry, known as RH7, were enrolled in our study. The first group consisted of 74 liver cirrhosis patients (including 25women and 49men). The control group consisted of a 63healthy population (including 23women and 40 and men). Both groups underwent both the Petrie and kinaesthesia tests. The results of the Petrie test, which compared healthy participants with those with liver cirrhosis, indicate that the healthy population achieved a significant difference in both right and left upper limb compared to those with liver cirrhosis patients (p< 0.05). The healthy population showed a significant difference compared to liver cirrhosis patients in the kinesthesia test (p< 0.05), except for the second attempt with the left upper limb (p= 0.267). According to the LFI, there was no significant difference in either upper limb during both the initial and second attempts of Petrie test (p> 0.05). Patients with liver cirrhosis exhibited significantly poorer gnostic functions compared to the healthy population. This condition also leads to notable impairments in motor functions, affecting both the precision and coordination of movements. Despite these deficits, frailty alone does not appear to be an indicator of worsened gnostic or stereognostic functions. Therefore, while liver cirrhosis has a clear negative impact on motor and cognitive abilities, the presence of frailty does not necessarily exacerbate these specific cognitive deficits. This distinction is crucial for clinical assessments and interventions targeting motor and cognitive rehabilitation in patients with liver cirrhosis.

Against vivisection: Charcot and Pitres’ discovery of the human motor cortex and the birth of modern neurosurgery and of the surgical treatment of epilepsy

ABSTRACT This article addresses the discrepancy between Edouard Hitzig’s and David Ferrier’s findings on the cortical localization of movements in animals and Jean-Martin Charcot’s findings in humans. The results of Hitzig’s and Ferrier’s vivisections were criticized by experimentalists in England and France as discordant, irreproducible, and inconclusive, and they were rejected by clinicians as irrelevant. Charcot addressed the gap between animal and human motor function by correlating motor deficits and focal epileptic seizures in patients to their autopsy findings. By this method he discovered the functional organization of the human motor cortex and produced the first accurate human motor brain map. Ferrier, William Osler, and Hughlings Jackson acknowledged Charcot’s findings, and his findings guided the first neurosurgeons in localizing and resecting intracranial mass lesions presenting with focal epileptic seizures. Although his contributions in these fields have been neglected by modern historians, Charcot made significant contributions to the neurobiology of the human motor system, to epileptology, and to the birth of modern neurosurgery.

Structure of adenylyl cyclase 5 in complex with Gβγ offers insights into ADCY5-related dyskinesia.

The nine different membrane-anchored adenylyl cyclase isoforms (AC1-9) in mammals are stimulated by the heterotrimeric G protein, Gαs, but their response to Gβγ regulation is isoform specific. In the present study, we report cryo-electron microscope structures of ligand-free AC5 in complex with Gβγ and a dimeric form of AC5 that could be involved in its regulation. Gβγ binds to a coiled-coil domain that links the AC transmembrane region to its catalytic core as well as to a region (C1b) that is known to be a hub for isoform-specific regulation. We confirmed the Gβγ interaction with both purified proteins and cell-based assays. Gain-of-function mutations in AC5 associated with human familial dyskinesia are located at the interface of AC5 with Gβγ and show reduced conditional activation by Gβγ, emphasizing the importance of the observed interaction for motor function in humans. We propose a molecular mechanism wherein Gβγ either prevents dimerization of AC5 or allosterically modulates the coiled-coil domain, and hence the catalytic core. As our mechanistic understanding of how individual AC isoforms are uniquely regulated is limited, studies such as this may provide new avenues for isoform-specific drug development.

ROSPECTS FOR THE USE OF H-REFLEXOMETRY IN THE STUDY OF HUMAN MOTOR FUNCTION

SUMMARY. The article application of H-reflexometry in the study of the central mechanisms of random human movements, which is mainly carried out on healthy subjects, is demonstrated. It has been shown that the results of clinical trials performed by H-reflexometry with the participation of injured people or people with neurological disorders provide additional information about these mechanisms, reveal the causes of human motor function disorders, contribute to the improvement of methods of their study and provide opportunities for the implementation of rehabilitation measures.&#x0D; The aim – to evaluate the prospects of using H-reflexometry in the study of central mechanisms of movements and means of restoring and maximizing the motor capabilities of people.&#x0D; Material and Methods. The analysis was carried out using the scientific biological and medical information search system PubMed.&#x0D; Results. H-reflexometry was used both for the study of motor functions of healthy people and patients with injuries and neurological disorders. The authors studied mainly H-reflexes m.soleus, m. flexor carpi radialis, m. quadriceps. The total number of publications with the results of studies performed on other muscles indicates the possibility of a wider use of H-reflexometry in the study of motor functions in humans than is generally accepted and currently implemented. It was found that H-reflexometry was used to the greatest extent in the researches of the mechanisms of motor disorders arising as a result of stroke and spinal cord injuries.&#x0D; Conclusions. The results of the review indicate that H-reflexometry provides ample opportunities to study human motor function in normal and pathological conditions, and it may be especially promising at present to examine injured people using this method, to implement and monitor their rehabilitation measures.

Recent developments and future avenues for human corticospinal neuroimaging.

Non-invasive neuroimaging serves as a valuable tool for investigating the mechanisms within the central nervous system (CNS) related to somatosensory and motor processing, emotions, memory, cognition, and other functions. Despite the extensive use of brain imaging, spinal cord imaging has received relatively less attention, regardless of its potential to study peripheral communications with the brain and the descending corticospinal systems. To comprehensively understand the neural mechanisms underlying human sensory and motor functions, particularly in pathological conditions, simultaneous examination of neuronal activity in both the brain and spinal cord becomes imperative. Although technically demanding in terms of data acquisition and analysis, a growing but limited number of studies have successfully utilized specialized acquisition protocols for corticospinal imaging. These studies have effectively assessed sensorimotor, autonomic, and interneuronal signaling within the spinal cord, revealing interactions with cortical processes in the brain. In this mini-review, we aim to examine the expanding body of literature that employs cutting-edge corticospinal imaging to investigate the flow of sensorimotor information between the brain and spinal cord. Additionally, we will provide a concise overview of recent advancements in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) techniques. Furthermore, we will discuss potential future perspectives aimed at enhancing our comprehension of large-scale neuronal networks in the CNS and their disruptions in clinical disorders. This collective knowledge will aid in refining combined corticospinal fMRI methodologies, leading to the development of clinically relevant biomarkers for conditions affecting sensorimotor processing in the CNS.

Hand Gesture Classification through Time Frequency Images with One-to-One, All-to-One, and Cross-Validation Approaches.

Surface electromyographic (sEMG) signals are a non-invasive method for acquiring signals that play a fundamental role in the monitoring of prosthetic devices by providing information about human motor functions. This leads to the need for accurate classification of sEMG signals, despite variations in signal stationarity, the presence of sensor noise, differences between the muscles involved, and the peculiarities of each patient. This study focuses on the classification of hand grip postures using sEMG signals acquired from amputee patients. Special emphasis is placed on the use of the time-frequency domain for feature extraction, using the spectral analysis of the reduced-time Fourier transform (STFT).To carry out this task, a classification model based on a convolutional neural network (CNN) is used. The classification method is adjusted, trained, and evaluated through three experiments. The first, called "One to One", yields accuracy percentages of 90.84%, 91.05%, and 91.13% for spectrograms of 32x32, 64x64, and 128x128 in size, respectively. In the second validation, called "All by One", an accuracy of 62.28% is achieved for spectrograms of 32x32 pixels. Finally, in the last K-fold cross-validation validation, an average accuracy of 86.73%, 86.77%, and 87.97% is obtained for spectrograms of 32x32, 64x64, and 128x128 in size, respectively.

Curbing Rhes Actions: Mechanism-based Molecular Target for Huntington's Disease and Tauopathies.

A highly interconnected network of diverse brain regions is necessary for the precise execution of human behaviors, including cognitive, psychiatric, and motor functions. Unfortunately, degeneration of specific brain regions causes several neurodegenerative disorders, but the mechanisms that elicit selective neuronal vulnerability remain unclear. This knowledge gap greatly hinders the development of effective mechanism-based therapies, despite the desperate need for new treatments. Here, we emphasize the importance of the Rhes (Ras homolog-enriched in the striatum) protein as an emerging therapeutic target. Rhes, an atypical small GTPase with a SUMO (small ubiquitin-like modifier) E3-ligase activity, modulates biological processes such as dopaminergic transmission, alters gene expression, and acts as an inhibitor of motor stimuli in the brain striatum. Mutations in the Rhes gene have also been identified in selected patients with autism and schizophrenia. Moreover, Rhes SUMOylates pathogenic form of mutant huntingtin (mHTT) and tau, enhancing their solubility and cell toxicity in Huntington's disease and tauopathy models. Notably, Rhes uses membrane projections resembling tunneling nanotubes to transport mHTT between cells and Rhes deletion diminishes mHTT spread in the brain. Thus, we predict that effective strategies aimed at diminishing brain Rhes levels will prevent or minimize the abnormalities that occur in HD and tauopathies and potentially in other brain disorders. We review the emerging technologies that enable specific targeting of Rhes in the brain to develop effective disease-modifying therapeutics.

Muscle Strength Enhancement and Metabolic Acceleration of College Students in Traditional Archery Programs Based on Functional Training

Abstract At the present stage, the evaluation of human motor function is mainly semi-quantitative, which only evaluates the overall motor function from the degree of joint mobility and muscle status, but the size of muscle strength cannot be obtained by direct measurement. In this paper, we take the muscle activation degree and joint angle of college students in traditional archery programs based on “functional training” as the experimental objects and establish a muscle strength prediction model based on a generalized dynamic fuzzy neural network (GD-FNN). By analyzing the relationship between the surface electromyographic signals and muscle strength under elbow flexion and extension, we selected suitable parameters as the sample data of the fuzzy neural network and proposed a learning algorithm based on the variable sliding window of the GD-FNN. The predicted muscle force was compared with the desired muscle force of the main flexion and extension muscles through the subjects’ elbow flexion exercise and extension exercise. The normalized root-mean-square error between the predicted and actual muscle strength of the algorithm in this paper is less than 0.2. Compared with the maximal strength test, the peak extensor moments (right) and peak extensor moments (left) of the college athletes before and after the functional training, the mean values increased by 30.6 N.m and 42.39 N.m, respectively. Compared with the metabolism of the students during the ordinary training of 2.74 met based on the “functional training” of traditional archery increased, students’ metabolism to 5.03 met. It shows that functional training is favorable to the muscle strength of traditional archery college students and has a positive effect on the metabolic capacity of the body.

Association between activity in the ventral premotor cortex and spinal cord activation during force generation-A combined cortico-spinal fMRI study.

Force generation is a crucial element of dexterity and a highly relevant skill of the human motor system. How cerebral and spinal components interact and how spinal activation is associated with the activity in the cerebral primary motor and premotor areas is poorly understood. Here, we conducted combined cortico-spinal functional magnetic resonance imaging during a simple visually guided isometric force generation task in 20 healthy young subjects. Activation was localized in the right cervical spinal cord and left primary motor and premotor areas. The main finding is that spinal activation was negatively correlated with ventral premotor cortex activation. Spinal activation was furthermore significantly correlated with primary motor cortex activation, while increasing target forces led to an increase in the amount of activation. These data indicate that human premotor areas such as the ventral premotor cortex might be functionally connected to the lower cervical spinal cord contributing to distal upper limb functions, a finding that extends our understanding of human motor function beyond the animal literature.

Relationship Between a High-Fat Diet, Reduced Mobility, and Trace Element Overload in the Olfactory Bulbs of C57BL/6J and DBA/2J Mice.

The dysregulation of trace elements in the brain, which can be caused by genetic or environmental factors, has been associated with disease and compromised mobility. Research regarding trace elements and motor function has focused mainly on the basal ganglia, but few studies have examined the olfactory bulb in this context. Diets high in fat have been shown to have consequences of dysregulated iron and manganese in the brain and disrupted motor activity. The aim of our study was to examine the relationship between mobility and trace element disruption in the olfactory bulb in male and female C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice fed a high-fat diet. Mobility was significantly reduced in male C57BL/6Js, but the correlation between iron and manganese in the olfactory bulb with velocity, distance travelled, and habituation was not statistically significant. However, there appears to be an overall pattern of a high-fat diet having a statistically significant impact individually on elevated iron and manganese in the olfactory bulb, reduced velocity, reduced distance travelled, and reduced habituation mainly in the male C57BL/6J strain. We found similar trends within the scientific literature to suggest that dysregulated trace element status in the olfactory bulb may be related to motor function in both humans and animals and that males may be more susceptible to the negative outcomes. Our findings contribute new information regarding the impact of diet on the brain, behavior, and potential connection between trace element dysregulation in the olfactory bulb with mobility.

A hybrid linear discriminant analysis and genetic algorithm to create a linear model of aging when performing motor tasks through inertial sensors positioned on the hand and forearm

Background During the aging process, cognitive functions and performance of the muscular and neural system show signs of decline, thus making the elderly more susceptible to disease and death. These alterations, which occur with advanced age, affect functional performance in both the lower and upper members, and consequently human motor functions. Objective measurements are important tools to help understand and characterize the dysfunctions and limitations that occur due to neuromuscular changes related to advancing age. Therefore, the objective of this study is to attest to the difference between groups of young and old individuals through manual movements and whether the combination of features can produce a linear correlation concerning the different age groups.Methods This study counted on 99 participants, these were divided into 8 groups, which were grouped by age. The data collection was performed using inertial sensors (positioned on the back of the hand and on the back of the forearm). Firstly, the participants were divided into groups of young and elderly to verify if the groups could be distinguished through the features alone. Following this, the features were combined using the linear discriminant analysis (LDA), which gave rise to a singular feature called the LDA-value that aided in verifying the correlation between the different age ranges and the LDA-value.Results The results demonstrated that 125 features are able to distinguish the difference between the groups of young and elderly individuals. The use of the LDA-value allows for the obtaining of a linear model of the changes that occur with aging in the performance of tasks in line with advancing age, the correlation obtained, using Pearson’s coefficient, was 0.86.Conclusion When we compare only the young and elderly groups, the results indicate that there is a difference in the way tasks are performed between young and elderly individuals. When the 8 groups were analyzed, the linear correlation obtained was strong, with the LDA-value being effective in obtaining a linear correlation of the eight groups, demonstrating that although the features alone do not demonstrate gradual changes as a function of age, their combination established these changes.

MACHINE LEARNING METHODS FOR EARLY-STAGE DIAGNOSIS OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE THROUGH HANDWRITING DATA

Parkinson's disease (PD) deteriorates human cognitive and motor functions, causing slowness of movements and postural shakiness. PD is currently incurable, and managing symptoms in its late stages is difficult. PD diagnosis also has gaps in accuracy due to several clinical challenges. Thus, early-stage detection of PD through its symptoms, such as handwriting abnormality, has become a popular research area using machine learning. Since most related studies focus on advanced algorithms, this study aims to determine the classification accuracies of simpler classical models using the NewHandPD-NewMeander dataset. This study used the 9 features extracted from the meanders drawn by healthy participants and participants diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and 3 features about the individual. The same features were reduced to the 8 best according to univariate selection and recursive feature elimination. The machine learning algorithms used for the models in this study are Logistic regression, Multilayer perceptron, and Naive Bayes. Additionally, hyperparameter optimization was done. Results have shown that feature selection improved the performances of the default model, while optimization had varying effects depending on the feature selection method used. Among 15 models built, Multilayer perceptron, which utilized top 8 features from univariate selection with default hyperparameters (MLPU8), performed best. It yielded an accuracy of 84.4% in cross-validation, 87.5% in holdout validation, and an F1-score of 87.5%. Remaining models had accuracies ranging from 81.4% - 84.4% in cross-validations and 82.5% - 85.0% in holdout validations. Other studies done on diagnosing PD using similar handwritten datasets resulted in lower accuracies of 87.14% and 77.38% despite utilizing complex algorithms for its models. This proved that the 15 models built using simple architecture can outperform complex classification methods. The 15 models built accurately classify meander data and can be used as an early assessment tool for detecting PD.

Surface-Modified Compounds Improve the Detection Sensitivity of Terahertz Metasurface Biosensors

Some trace elements in the human body, such as proteins and metabolites, are closely related to human health. Changes in the concentration of proteins can usually be used as indicators for the diagnosis of diseases. On the other side, some metabolites such as lactic acid and uric acid are closely related to human motor function. A large part of cancer markers are proteins, and their concentration changes in human serum and body fluid are usually closely related to cancer diagnosis, staging and prognosis. It has always been the goal of researchers to efficiently and sensitively detect the relevant trace elements in human body. Due to the characteristics of low energy, coherence and fingerprint, terahertz (THz) waves have been widely used in the detection of substances in recent years. Metasurface sensor is a new type of sensor with unique electromagnetic characteristics based on artificial design. The emergence of THz metasurface sensors provides a new technical means for the detection of trace elements proteins. Based on the above background, the research objects in this paper are three common protein cancer markers: carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and squamous epithelial cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), in order to study the detection performance of THz metasurface sensor and its improvement effect after modification. In the experiment, the cancer marker is dropped onto the surface of sensor, and the spectrum is detected by THz time-domain system (TDS), and the frequency shift is calculated by comparing with the resonance frequency of the blank sensor. Then the experiment was repeated by changing the concentration and class of the marker, and the sensitivity of sensors was calculated by fitting the relationship between the frequency shift and the concentration of markers. After that, two compounds (halloysite nanotube and Tungsten disulfide) were used to modify the metasurface sensor, and compared with the unmodified metasurface sensor. The experimental results show that for the detection of three markers, the metasurface sensor modified with HNT has significantly improved the detection sensitivity compared with the sensor modified with WS2 and blank sensor. This provides a new means for THz metasurface sensors in the detection of biomarkers, which is suitable for biomedicine, human health monitoring and other fields.

Relevance of hazards in exoskeleton applications: a survey-based enquiry

Exoskeletons are becoming the reference technology for assistance and augmentation of human motor functions in a wide range of application domains. Unfortunately, the exponential growth of this sector has not been accompanied by a rigorous risk assessment (RA) process, which is necessary to identify the major aspects concerning the safety and impact of this new technology on humans. This situation may seriously hamper the market uptake of new products. This paper presents the results of a survey that was circulated to understand how hazards are considered by exoskeleton users, from research and industry perspectives. Our analysis aimed to identify the perceived occurrence and the impact of a sample of generic hazards, as well as to collect suggestions and general opinions from the respondents that can serve as a reference for more targeted RA. Our results identified a list of relevant hazards for exoskeletons. Among them, misalignments and unintended device motion were perceived as key aspects for exoskeletons’ safety. This survey aims to represent a first attempt in recording overall feedback from the community and contribute to future RAs and the identification of better mitigation strategies in the field.

IMPROVEMENT OF POSTURAL FUNCTION OF THE LOWER EXTREMITY AFTER TOTAL HIP REPLACEMENT

Postural control is an integral part of the human motor function in a state of health and illness. Postural control impairments are often found in injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems. Degenerative processes in the hip joint adversely alter the mechanoreception, which problem can be eliminated through total hip replacement. The purpose of this study is to follow the static balance recovery process, following a total hip replacement, after a 30-day sensorimotor stimulation at home. Material and methods: Material: the study involves 20 women (60-72 years old) who underwent total hip replacement and a following sensorimotor stimulation at home. Methods: pain rating, according to the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS); Manual Muscle Testing (MMT) of certain muscle groups; test for static and dynamic balance, and postural control Results: The obtained results show a significant improvement in motor and postural function during the postoperative period due to systematic physiotherapy at home. Conclusions: the approved sensorimotor training program is easily implemented individually and at home and can be successfully integrated with other physiotherapeutic means from the functional recovery programs for total hip replacement during the minimally protective phase or chronic recovery period.

Targeted Selection of Stimulation Parameters for Restoration of Motor and Autonomic Function in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

Study DesignThis is a report of methods and tools for selection of task and individual configurations targeted for voluntary movement, standing, stepping, blood pressure stabilization, and facilitation of bladder storage and emptying using tonic-interleaved excitation of the lumbosacral spinal cord. ObjectivesThis study aimed to present strategies used for selection of stimulation parameters for various motor and autonomic functions. ConclusionsTonic-interleaved functionally focused neuromodulation targets a myriad of consequences from spinal cord injury with surgical implantation of the epidural electrode at a single location. This approach indicates the sophistication of the human spinal cord circuitry and its important role in the regulation of motor and autonomic functions in humans.