Passive Movement Research Articles

EFFECT OF AGNIKARMA IN AMSAMARMA ABHIGHATA - TRAUMATIC PERI-ARTHRITIS OF THE SHOULDER JOINT- A CASE REPORT

Periarthritis of the shoulder joint is a condition characterised by disabling pain, inflammation, stiffness, and restriction of both active and passive movements of the shoulder joint. Among the factors suggested for the cause of the disease, trauma is found to be one of them. Traumatic periarthritis of the shoulder joint may be correlated with Amsamarma Abhighata due to similarity in clinical features such as Bahukriyaharam and Stabdabahutha. Acharya Susrutha mentioned that Agnikarma is effective in Ruja pertaining to Sira, Snayu, Sandhi and Asthigata Vikara. Amsamarma is a Snayu Marma and Acharya Susrutha has mentioned Dahanopakarana like Kshoudra, Guda, Sneha for Agnikarma in Sira, Snayu, Sandhi, Asthi gata Vikara. In this study, a female patient 60 years was treated with Agnikarma to assess the effect of Agnikarma with Tila Taila in Amsamarma Abhighata - Traumatic periarthritis of shoulder joint. Agnikarma has properties like Vatakaphahara, Ushna, Sookshma, and Ashukari Guna, which help relieve pain and stiffness instantly. Snigdha dravyas have deep heat penetration capacity with a greater latent heat period. It is helpful in musculoskeletal disorders and can be done on an OPD basis. The assessment was done on subjective parameter, pain and objective parameter like range of movements(Abduction). The patient was assessed before and after treatment. Follow-up was done on the 7th, 15th and 30th day for 1 month.

The nuclear lamin network passively responds to both active or passive cell movement through confinements.

Physical models of cell motility rely mostly on cytoskeletal dynamical assembly. However, when cells move through the complex 3D environment of living tissues, they have to squeeze their nucleus that is stiffer than the rest of the cell. The lamin network, organised as a shell right underneath the nuclear membrane, contributes to the nuclear integrity and stiffness. Yet, its response during squeezed cell motility has never been fully characterised. As a result, up to now, the interpretations on the lamin response mechanism are mainly speculative. Here, we quantitatively map the lamin A/C distribution in both a microfluidic migration device and a microfluidic aspiration device. In the first case, the cell is actively involved in translocating the nucleus through the constriction, while in the second case, the cell behaves as a passive object that is pushed through the constriction by an external pressure. Using a quantitative description of the lamin shell response based on mass conservation arguments applied on the fluorescence signal of lamin, we show that in both cases of migration and aspiration, the response of the lamin network is passive. In this way, our results not only further elucidate the lamin response mechanism, but also allow to characterise that this deformation is passive even when the cell is actively migrating, thus paving the way to further investigate which active nuclear responses may occur when cells migrate in confinement.

Effects of Intensive Impairment-Oriented Arm Rehabilitation for Chronic Stroke Survivors: An Observational Cohort Study.

Objective: To assess the effects of a two-week course of intensive impairment-oriented arm rehabilitation for chronic stroke survivors on motor function. Methods: An observational cohort study that enrolled chronic stroke survivors (≥6 months after stroke) with mild to severe arm paresis, who received a two-week course of impairment-oriented and technology-supported arm rehabilitation (1:1 participant-therapist setting), which was carried out daily (five days a week) for four hours. The outcome measures were as follows: the primary outcome was the arm motor function of the affected arm (mild paresis: BBT, NHPT; severe paresis: Fugl-Meyer arm motor score). The secondary outcomes were measures of finger strength, active ROM, spasticity, joint mobility/pain, somatosensation, emotional distress, quality of life, acceptability, and adverse events. Results: One hundred chronic stroke survivors (≥6 months after stroke) with mild to severe arm paresis were recruited. The training was acceptable (drop-out rate 3%; 3/100). The clinical assessment indicated improved motor function (SMD 0.42, 95% CI 0.36-0.49; n = 97), reduced spasticity/resistance to passive movement, and slightly improved joint mobility/pain and somatosensation. The technology-based objective measures corroborated the improved active range of motion for arm and finger joints, reduced finger spasticity/resistance to passive movement, and the increased amount of use in daily life, but there was no effect on finger strength. The patient's emotional well-being and quality of life were positively influenced. Adverse events were reported by the majority of participants (51%, 49/97) and were mild. Conclusions: Structured intensive impairment-oriented and technology-supported arm rehabilitation can promote motor function among chronic stroke survivors with mild to severe arm paresis and is an acceptable and tolerable form of treatment when supervised and adjusted by therapists.

Effect of concentric exercise-induced fatigue on proprioception, motor control and performance of the upper limb in handball players.

The last phases of a competitive game are when shoulder injuries most commonly happen, and fatigue is thought to be a major contributing factor, perhaps because of reduced proprioception and motor control. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of concentric fatigue on proprioception, motor control, and performance of the upper limb in handball players. Forty-six right-handed handball players (all males, age 26.1 ± 5.54 years) were included in this test-retest laboratory experiment. Proprioception was assessed using joint reposition sense (JRS), threshold to detection of passive movement (TTDPM), muscle onset latency (MOL), motor control using Y balance test upper quarter (YBT-UQ) and performance using the athletic shoulder test (ASH) before and immediately after fatigue intervention. The fatigue protocol consisted of concentric, maximal effort, isokinetic contractions at 900/sec with sets of 30 repetitions of the shoulder external and internal rotator muscles. Fatigue was determined by a 40% decline in the peak torque over three consecutive contractions despite reinforcing feedback and encouragement. A significant increase in absolute angular error (AAE) was observed in all target angles in both external rotation (ER) and internal rotation (IR) directions (p < 0.01). In addition, there was a significant increase in TTDPM in internal rotation after fatigue intervention (p = 0.020. Variable changes were found in YBT-UQ and ASH tests. Specifically, statistically significant differences were found in anteromedial (AM) (p = 0.041), superolateral (SL) reach directions (p = 0.005), composite score (p = 0.009) in the right hand and inferolateral (IL) reach direction in the left hand (p = 0.020) in the YBT-UQ. In addition, there was a significant reduction in isometric strength (ASH test) in the I position of the right hand (p = 0.010) and all positions of the left hand (p<0.05). Furthermore, there was an increase in MOL scores after fatigue but the increase was not significant (p > 0.05). Concentric fatigue of the rotator cuff muscles induces notable deficits in joint position awareness, kinesthesia, motor control, and performance of the upper extremity in elite male handball players. Although fatigue reduces reflex reaction time the effect is only marginal.

EMG-assessed paratonia: A novel approach to investigating motor response inhibition in healthy subjects.

Paratonia is an involuntary muscle activity that occurs during passive joint mobilization and is common in people with dementia. It includes oppositional paratonia, in which muscle activity resists passive movement, and facilitatory paratonia, in which it assists movement. This phenomenon reflects a defect in motor response inhibition. In a recently published paper, we demonstrated that paratonia can be detected using surface electromyography (EMG) not only in patients with dementia but also in healthy individuals, the majority of whom do not exhibit clinically observable paratonia. This finding suggests that EMG-assessed paratonia may provide a novel approach to studying motor response inhibition in healthy subjects. The present study investigates this possibility for the first time. We recruited 120 healthy subjects under the age of 30, divided equally into three groups: sedentary, amateur, and professional athletes with low, moderate, and high levels of physical activity, respectively. Paratonia was assessed in the triceps and biceps brachii muscles during passive forearm movements performed manually. The results indicate that paratonia is more pronounced during fast and continuous passive movements, with facilitatory paratonia being more prevalent than oppositional paratonia. It is also more pronounced in the biceps than in the triceps. These findings, which mirror those previously observed in patients with dementia, suggest a similarity between paratonia in healthy subjects and those with cognitive impairment, supporting the hypothesis that paratonia in healthy individuals represents a form of impaired motor response inhibition. Furthermore, the comparison between groups showed that paratonia decreased with increasing physical activity, being least evident in athletes, more noticeable in amateurs, and most pronounced in sedentary individuals. This pattern confirms a key feature of motor response inhibition that has been shown in studies using traditional methods. Overall, our findings suggest that EMG-assessed paratonia provides a new method for studying motor response inhibition in healthy individuals.

Influence of interoception and body movement on the rubber hand illusion.

Rubber hand illusion (RHI) refers to the illusory sense of body ownership of a fake hand, which is induced by synchronous visuotactile stimulation to the real and fake hands. A negative correlation was reported between the cardiac interoception and the strength of RHI, but the subsequent studies have been unsuccessful in replicating it. On the other hand, voluntary action is suggested to link interoception and the sense of body ownership in different situations. If so, moving RHI, induced by the active or the passive finger tapping while observing a fake hand, might reveal the relationship more clearly. The measurement of interoception has been another issue. We, therefore, examined the relationship between the moving RHI and two measures of interoception: interoceptive accuracy (IAcc) measured by the conventional heartbeat counting task and interoceptive sensibility (IS) measured using a questionnaire. For the classical visuotactile RHI, our results supported the lack of association between the interoception measures and RHI. For the moving RHI, a stronger sense of body ownership was induced for participants with higher IS regardless of active or passive movement, and a stronger sense of agency was caused by active than passive movement only for those with lower IAcc. These results reveal the dynamic links between the interoception and the bodily senses. The results also suggest that multiple dimensions of interoception affect the bodily senses differently.

Self-other distinction modulates the sense of self-agency during joint actions

In daily life interactions, we achieve goals with partners through tight temporal coordination or sequential joint efforts. Is our individual sense of control over shared outcomes (sense of self-agency) the same as the one experienced when we act alone? Do we explicitly and implicitly feel like we are fully in control of the motor act even if the goal is finally achieved by our partner? To address these questions, we measured explicit and implicit sense of self-agency in individual and (coordinated or sequential) interactive contexts. We studied 42 healthy adult participants during active/passive button presses aimed at turning on a light bulb. This goal could be achieved individually (Solo condition) or by interacting with a partner (Joint condition) synchronously (joint Coordination task) or sequentially (joint Sequential task). We collected trial-by-trial explicit judgments of self-agency. To quantify the intentional binding phenomenon, an index of implicit sense of agency, we also measured the perceived compression of the time interval between the active or passive movements and their outcomes. Explicit sense of agency: we observed decreased judgments of self-agency in Joint trials compared with the Solo ones in both the Coordination and Sequential tasks. Implicit sense of agency: in the Coordination task, we found a significant intentional binding effect only in Solo trials but not in Joint ones. For the Sequential task, however, a significant intentional binding was also present in the Joint condition. Our results indicate that the individual sense of agency is reduced during joint actions, yet this can be restored at an implicit level when the format of the motor interaction makes the individual contribution to goal achievement more obvious. We discuss these results considering current cognitive theories on motor awareness and interactions.

Early pain findings in infants with brachial plexus birth injury: Relationship with function and comorbidities, and cut-off point for fractures

BackgroundInfants with birth brachial plexus injury (BPBI) may have various comorbidities such as fractures, torticollis, plagiocephaly, central nervous system disorders. In infants with BPBI, it is important to identify fractures, which are common among comorbidities, objectively assess pain, and investigate factors that may be associated with pain. AimThe aim of this study is to determine the pain level, comorbidities, and motor function in infants with BPBI and to examine the relationship between these parameters. The second aim is to determine the cut-off value of the pain score that may be a sign of fracture in patients with BPBI, in order to suspect and predict a fracture in the shoulder region and to request additional examinations. Subjects and measurements59 infants with BPBI aged 15–90 days were included in the study. Comorbidities, active joint movements, and total upper extremity function assessed with the Active Movement Scale and pain scores measured with the FLACC Pain Scale were retrospectively analyzed. In addition, pain, comorbidities and motor function were investigated according to types of Narakas, which indicates the degree of nerve injury. ResultsOf the 59 participants, 18 (30.5 %) had at least one comorbidity and 12 (20.3 %) had fractures. The number of comorbidities (p = 0.41), the number of fractures (p = 0.84), and the level of pain (p = 0.71) did not differ by types of Narakas. There was a moderate negative correlation between pain level and upper extremity motor function in upper trunk injuries (p < 0.5, −0.67 < r < −0.46). There was a difference in pain level measured by palpation (p < 0.01) and passive joint movement (p < 0.01) in infants with and without comorbidities. To suspect a fracture in the shoulder region and to request further evaluation, the cut-off value of the Flacc pain level, which may predict a fracture, was 3.5 points for palpation and passive shoulder abduction and 4.5 points for passive external rotation. ConclusionThis is the first study in the BPBI to measure pain in infants using a quantifiable and widely used assessment. Pain level was ranked from high to low as infants with fractures, infants with comorbidities other than fractures and infants without comorbidities. Increased pain adversely affects motor function and pain above the cut-off values is a predictor of fracture.

Skeletal muscle hypertrophy and enhanced mitochondrial bioenergetics following electrical stimulation exercises in spinal cord injury: a randomized clinical trial.

We examined the combined effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation-resistance training (NMES-RT) and functional electrical stimulation-lower extremity cycling (FES-LEC) compared to passive movement training (PMT) and FES-LEC on mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) complexes and citrate synthase (CS) in adults with SCI. Thirty-two participants with chronic SCI were randomized to 24weeks of NMES-RT + FES [n = 16 (14 males and 2 females) with an age range of 20-54years old] or PMT + FES [n = 16 (12 males and 4 females) with an age range of 21-61years old]. The NMES-RT + FES group underwent 12weeks of surface NMES-RT using ankle weights followed by an additional 12weeks of FES-LEC. The PMT + FES performed 12weeks of passive leg extension movements followed by an additional 12weeks of FES-LEC. Using repeated measures design, muscle biopsies of the vastus lateralis were performed at baseline (BL), post-intervention 1 (P1) and post-intervention 2 (P2). Spectrophotometer was used to measure ETC complexes (I-III) and CS using aliquots of the homogenized muscle tissue. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure skeletal muscle CSAs. A time effect was noted on CS (P = 0.001) with an interaction between both groups (P = 0.01). 46% of the participants per group had zero activities of CI without any changes following both interventions. A time effect was noted in CII (P = 0.023) following both interventions. Finally, NMES-RT + FES increased CIII at P1 compared to BL (P = 0.023) without additional changes in P2 or following PMT + FES intervention. Skeletal muscle hypertrophy may potentially enhance mitochondrial bioenergetics after SCI. NMES-RT is likely to enhance the activities of complex III in sedentary persons with SCI. Clinical trials # NCT02660073.

Passive Movement Exercise of the Lower Limbs May Facilitate Wound Healing in Patients With Diabetic Foot Ulcers.

Diabetic foot ulcers are a frequent and serious complication of diabetes with a high risk of amputation. Exercise has been shown to promote wound healing; however, patients with non-healing foot ulcers have limited ability to exercise due to the foot ulcer. Other strategies are therefore warranted. We evaluated the effect of eight weeks of two-leg passive movement exercise on wound healing in patients with non-healing diabetic foot ulcers. Twenty-one patients were included in the study and randomized into either a control or a passive movement exercise intervention group. The primary outcome measure was the wound area. Sixteen participants completed the trial. Wound sizes for the passive movement intervention group were 274 mm2 and 58 mm2 at baseline and week 8, compared to 148 mm2 (p=0.31) and 136 mm2 (p=0.51) in the control group (week 16; 7 mm2 vs. 23 mm2, p=0.55). The mean wound area percentual reduction between baseline and week 8 was higher in the intervention group (76% vs. 36%, difference 40%, p=0.062). The two-leg passive movement intervention showed a non-significant difference in wound healing and was well tolerated by patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Although the study shows potential, the results should be interpreted with its limitations of being underpowered and potentially confounded. We encourage larger randomized controlled trials to be conducted, to elucidate whether the two-leg passive movement intervention can be used to accelerate wound healing in non-healing ulcers.

Changing the view on spastic movement disorder management to improve active movement competence in the upper motor neuron syndrome: a clinical perspective.

It is common in clinical practice to evaluate active movement in spastic movement disorders (SMDs) associated with the upper motor neuron syndrome in terms of resistance to passive movement in the rest position, with the assumption that this may reflect motor control when the patient is in active motion. In addition, the definition of spasticity as a velocity-dependent resistance to passive movement does not account for the impact of abnormal muscle synergies (synkinesia), on active motion of upper and lower limbs in SMDs. In this article, we put forward our theory that synkinetic movement patterns are controlled by activation from spinal afferents and inhibition from the cortex, and become disturbed following a loss of inhibition and change to spinal afferents following damage to the corticospinal tract. In this regard, we propose a change in the focus from passive to active function at the evaluation stage of the SMD management plan, and a new treatment approach to modulate muscle synergies with botulinum neurotoxin type A therapy.

Neonatal Proximal Humerus Osteomyelitis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Objective − This case report was written with the purpose of educating neonatal caregivers with regard to the early detection of osteomyelitis in order to start treatment quickly and avoid the devastating consequences later with lifelong disability.Case Report − We present a 20-day-old newborn with a lack of spontaneous movement of the right arm, which first occurred 5 days prior. The newborn was diagnosed with Erb’s palsy, and physiotherapy was started. Upon re-examination, he did not move his right arm, his shoulder was slightly swollen, he was afebrile, and C-reactive protein was elevated. The initial radiographic finding was normal, but the ultrasound evaluation found evidence of proximal humerus osteomyelitis. Over the next two days, the condition did not improve despite the included therapy (vancomycin and amikacin). Then, joint drainage surgery was performed. The radiographic finding upon discharge showed significant destruction of the proximal humerus and shoulder joint. At the age of 12 months, the range of motion in the affected shoulder joint was less than in the left.Conclusion − Regular arm mobility in the early postpartum days, pseudoparalysis on examination, a swollen and raised shoulder, pain during passive movements, a positive ultrasound examination, and a high level of C-reactive protein are data that can reliably indicate the onset of osteomyelitis of the proximal humerus and help in the differential diagnosis between osteomyelitis and Erb’s palsy. The lack of timely diagnosis of osteomyelitis and the delayed inclusion of therapy can lead to late consequences, such as significant destruction of the proximal humerus and the shoulder joint.

Widespread geographic distribution of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) kdr variants in Panama.

We searched for evidence of knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations in the voltage-gated sodium channel gene of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes from Panama. Conventional PCR was performed on 469 Ae. aegypti and 349 Ae. albopictus. We did not discover kdr mutations in Ae. albopictus, but 2 nonsynonymous kdr mutations, V1016I (found in 101 mosquitoes) and F1534C (found in 29 of the mosquitoes with the V1016I), were detected in Ae. aegypti. These kdr mutations were present in all specimens that were successfully sequenced for both IIS5-S6 and IIIS6 regions, which included samples collected from 8 of the 10 provinces of Panama. No other kdr mutations were found in Ae. aegypti, including V1016G, which has already been reported in Panama. Findings suggest that the V1016I-F1534C variant is prevalent in Panama, which might be related to the introduction and passive movement of mosquitoes as part of the used-tire trade. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that selection on de novo replacement of kdr mutations also partially explains the widespread distribution pattern of these mutations. These 2 ecological and evolutionary processes are not mutually exclusive, though, as they can occur in tandem. Research in Panama needs to calculate the genotypic and allelic frequencies of kdr alleles in local Ae. aegypti populations and to test whether some combinations confer phenotypic resistance or not. Finally, future studies will have to track the introduction and spreading of new kdr mutations in both Aedes species.

The role of mouse tails in response to external and self-generated balance perturbations on the roll plane.

Chordate tails exhibit considerable morphological and functional diversity, with variations in length, diameter and texture adapted to various ecological roles. While some animals, including humans, have lost or reduced their tails, many vertebrates retain and use their tails for activities such as balancing, climbing and escaping predators. This study investigates how laboratory mice (Mus musculus) use their tails to maintain balance when dealing with external and self-generated perturbations. Mice crossed platforms of different widths, while responding to roll-plane tilts. Our findings show that mice swing their tails to counteract external roll perturbations, generating angular momentum to stabilize themselves. Mice were also found to use active (dynamic stabilizer) and passive (counterweight) tail movement strategies when locomoting on narrow platforms. The results suggest that the tail is a core component of mouse locomotion, especially in challenging balancing conditions.

The Pericoracoid Tissue Release in Children With Brachial Plexus Birth Injury

In brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI), children with upper trunk injuries have multidirectional movement deficits, including global abduction and hand-to-neck, hand-to-abdomen, and hand-to-spine movements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of pericoracoid tissue release and postoperative structured physiotherapy as a first-step intervention to reduce the multidirectional movement deficit in children with BPBI. Thirty-four children with BPBI underwent pericoracoid tissue release, including coracohumeral and coracoacromial ligament release, pectoralis minor release, and coracoid process osteotomy. Patients were followed up with regular physiotherapy and a home exercise program for 1 year after surgery. Before surgery and at 3 and 12 months after surgery, upper-extremity function was measured using the modified Mallet classification and Active Movement Scale, passive shoulder and elbow joint movements were measured using goniometry, and the difference in the distance between the treatment table and the acromion was measured. There was an improvement in all movement tasks evaluated with modified Mallet classification, and there was increased shoulder flexion, abduction, and external and internal rotation movements as evaluated with Active Movement Scale. Increased passive joint movements were noted in abduction, external rotation, and internal rotation movements with the arm next to the body and with the limb in 90° abduction. There was a decrease in the distance difference between the acromion and the treatment table between both sides. Pericoracoid tissue release provided multidirectional improvement in shoulder joint movements in children with BPBI. Therapeutic IV.

Hip joint kinematic assessment in chronic non-specific low back pain patients. A Delphi study

BackgroundChronic nonspecific low back pain (CNSLBP) has been associated with movement impairment (MI) of the hip joint. However, evidence supporting this is inconsistent.Agreement from experts may provide rationale and recommendations for the assessment of the hip joint in the management of CNSLBP patients. ObjectiveGain expert consensus on whether hip MIs are related to CNSLBP, whether they should be assessed and which movement types and directions they recommend. MethodsThrough a three-round e-Delphi process, international experts in the field rated levels of agreement for generated themes pertaining to assessing proposed hip joint MI in individuals with CNSLBP and underlying rationales. Consensus was defined a priori as ≥75% ratings on Likert scales with an IQR≤ 1. ResultsInternational expert panel consisted of a mix of researchers and clinicians with the majority involved in both. Response for round I was 27, round 2 was 21 and round III was 26 individuals.Consensus was achieved for the association of active and passive hip joint MI in CNSLBP and their assessment. 100% agreement was achieved for the rationale regarding compensatory movement of the lumbar spine, and the assessment of passive hip movements, in particular extension. Consensus was also achieved for assessing hip passive flexion, extension, rotations, and abduction, active flexion, extension, and abduction. No agreement was attained regarding passive accessory movement. ConclusionThe assessment of active and passive hip joint MI is regarded by experts as appropriate and informative in the management of and research pertaining to CNSLBP.

The presence of an avatar can reduce cybersickness in Virtual Reality

Virtual Reality (VR) applications are increasingly being utilized for research, healthcare, and education. Despite their benefits, many VR users report motion sickness-like sensations (cybersickness), such as headache, disorientation, or nausea. Previous studies suggest that the sense of presence (“being there”) in the virtual world may contribute to the severity of cybersickness; however, results have been contradictory, with some studies reporting a negative and some reporting a positive relationship between the two. The goal of the current study was to further investigate how presence and cybersickness are related. Participants (N = 54) were exposed to a VR scene presented on a head-mounted display showing a 15-minute-long passive movement through space. The level of presence was manipulated by including an avatar (astronaut suit with hand-tracking) or no avatar in the virtual environment. Results showed that the avatar group reported significantly less severe cybersickness compared to the no-avatar group. We also found significant, negative correlations between some of the presence metrics (immersion, sensory fidelity) and cybersickness, indicating that cybersickness severity decreased as the level of presence increased. These findings suggest that more immersive VR experiences using an avatar may potentially reduce the risk of experiencing cybersickness.

Cortical brain potentials in response to lower limb proprioceptive stimuli in young adults with probable developmental coordination disorder

BackgroundProprioceptive deficits have been shown to underlie motor problems in individuals with a probable developmental coordination disorder (pDCD). Behavioral studies have employed response times to passive limb movement to evaluate proprioceptive function in individuals with pDCD. However, the underlying neural mechanisms involved in the cortical processing of proprioceptive input and its corresponding motor response are unclear. To address this issue, this study aims to investigate neuropsychological and neurophysiological performances using event-related potentials (ERP) on proprioceptive-motor tasks in young adults with pDCD. MethodsFrom a total of 149 young adults screened using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2nd Edition Complete Form (BOT-2), 12 individuals with pDCD were identified (mean age ± SD: 20.50 ± 1.08 years) along with 12 age- and sex-matched controls (mean age ± SD: 20.75 ± 1.05 years). Participants placed their dominant foot on a passive ankle motion apparatus that plantarflexed the ankle at a constant velocity of 22°/s for a total of 75 trials in each proprioceptive condition. With vision occluded, participants had to press the trigger button held by the dominant hand when they sensed the passive motion of the ankle (voluntary response, VR), or purely receive the movement without a voluntary response (non-voluntary response, NVR). Behavioral performances [i.e., mean movement detection time (MDTmean), the standard deviation of the movement detection time (MDTSD)] and ERP indices (i.e., N1, P3 amplitude, and latency) related to ankle kinesthetic stimuli were obtained to determine the proprioceptive-motor function. ResultsThe results showed that young adults with pDCD exhibited longer MDTmean (p < 0.001) and MDTSD (p = 0.002) compared to their controls. Electrophysiological indices measured at frontal and central electrode sites, showed that young adults with pDCD exhibited significantly smaller N1 (p = 0.019) and P3 amplitudes (p = 0.032) during VR and NVR conditions. Notably, correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between MDTmean and N1 (r = 0.62, p < 0.001) and P3 amplitudes (r = − 0.55, p = 0.005) in the VR condition in young adults with and without pDCD. ConclusionsThis study sheds light on the central brain mechanisms underlying proprioceptive-motor deficits in young adults with pDCD. The combined analysis of behavioral and ERP data suggests that longer MDTmean and larger MDTSD in young adults with pDCD are associated with weaker proprioceptive afferent inflow shown by decreased N1 amplitude to the frontal and parietal cortices. Such degraded proprioceptive signals are followed by reduced P3 amplitude, suggesting that young adults with pDCD allocate fewer neural resources to modulate motor processes with regard to proprioceptive stimuli. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the neurophysiological basis of proprioceptive-motor deficits in pDCD and may inform the development of targeted sensorimotor interventions.

Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation in Geriatric Dogs and Cats

The word “geriatric” refers to the medicine of the elderly and it is used in veterinary medicine for animals that have completed 75% of their lifespan. As the size of an animal increases, the age at which they become geriatric decreases, therefore; geriatric age varies amongst different species and breeds. Homeostatic changes occur with increasing age and some diseases such as obesity, tumor formation, orthopedic disorders, cardiovascular disorders and neurological disorders are frequently seen. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to such diseases. Thus, regular screening tests and clinical examinations are important for early diagnosis. Geriatric physiotherapy is a developing field that is noninvasive and, in some cases, can be used as a form of primary treatment or supportive treatment. Physiotherapy prevents muscle atrophy and reduces pain caused by inflammation all the while improving the patient’s quality of life. There is a wide range of different methods used in physiotherapy; TENS and NMES devices, passive and active movement exercises, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, massage, laser therapy, ECSWT and cryotherapy. However, treatment protocols are tailored by physicians to fit each patient’s needs depending on the disease and severity of the disease to be treated.

Concentric exercise-induced fatigue of the shoulder impairs proprioception but not motor control or performance in healthy young adults

ObjectivesTo investigate the effect of concentric fatigue on proprioception, motor control and performance of the shoulder in healthy young adults. DesignTest-retest experimental design. SettingHuman performance laboratory. Participants20 healthy adults. Main outcome meausure(s)Proprioception was assessed using the joint repositioning sense (JRS) and the threshold to detection of passive movement (TTDPM). Motor control was assessed using the Y-balance Upper Quarter test (YBT-UQ) and performance using the Athletic Shoulder test (ASH test). All tests were conducted before and immediately after fatigue intervention (CON/CON protocol). ResultsFollowing fatigue, absolute angular error (AAE) was significantly increase by 160.27 %. Moreover, there was a significant increase (48.41 %) in TTDPM after fatigue. Furthermore there was no significant differences in motor control and performance before and after fatigue intervention. ConclusionsSince muscular fatigue negatively affects shoulder proprioception, it is essential to assess proprioception before and after fatigue to detect any dysfunctions that may arise as a result of fatigue. To address these dysfunctions, it is recommended to engage in proprioceptive exercises under situations of fatigue in order to enhance the sensitivity of the mechanoreceptors.