Quantity Of Movements Research Articles

The Potential Role of Wearable Inertial Sensors in Laboring Women with Walking Epidural Analgesia.

There is a growing interest in wearable inertial sensors to monitor and analyze the movements of pregnant women. The noninvasive and discrete nature of these sensors, integrated into devices accumulating large datasets, offers a unique opportunity to study the dynamic changes in movement patterns during the rapid physical transformations induced by pregnancy. However, the final cut of the third trimester of pregnancy, particularly the first stage of labor up to delivery, remains underexplored. The growing popularity of "walking epidural", a neuraxial analgesia method allowing motor function preservation, ambulation, and free movement throughout labor and during delivery, opens new opportunities to study the biomechanics of labor using inertial sensors. Critical research gaps exist in parturient fall prediction and detection during walking epidural and understanding pain dynamics during labor, particularly in the presence of pelvic girdle pain. The analysis of fetal descent, upright positions, and their relationship with dynamic pelvic movements facilitated by walking during labor is another area where inertial sensors can play an interesting role. Moreover, as contemporary obstetrics advocate for less restricted or non-restricted movements during labor, the role of inertial sensors in objectively measuring the quantity and quality of women's movements becomes increasingly important. This includes studying the impact of epidural analgesia on maternal mobility, walking patterns, and associated obstetrical outcomes. In this paper, the potential use of wearable inertial sensors for gait analysis in the first stage of labor is discussed.

A Novel, Wearable Inertial Measurement Unit for Stroke Survivors: Validity, Acceptability, and Usability

ObjectiveTo establish the concurrent validity, acceptability, and sensor optimization of a consumer-grade, wearable, multi-sensor system to capture quantity and quality metrics of mobility and upper limb movements in stroke survivors. DesignSingle-session, cross-sectional. SettingClinical research laboratory. ParticipantsThirty chronic stroke survivors (age 57 (10) years; 33% female) with mild to severe motor impairments participated. InterventionsNot Applicable. Main Outcome MeasuresParticipants donned 5 sensors and performed standardized assessments of mobility and upper limb (UL) movement. True/false, positive/negative time in active movement for the UL were calculated and compared to criterion-standards using an accuracy rate. Bland-Altman plots and linear regression models were used to establish concurrent validity of UL movement counts, step counts, and stance time symmetry of MiGo against established criterion-standard measures. Acceptability and sensor optimization were assessed through an end-user survey and decision matrix. ResultsMobility metrics showed excellent association with criterion-standards for step counts (video: r=0.988, P<.001, IMU: r=0.921, P<.001) and stance-time symmetry (r=0.722, P<.001). In the UL, movement counts showed excellent to good agreement (paretic: r=0.849, P<.001, nonparetic: r=0.672, P<.001). Accuracy of active movement time was 85.2% (paretic) and 88.0% (nonparetic) UL. Most participants (63.3%) had difficulty donning/doffing the sensors. Acceptability was high (4.2/5). ConclusionsThe sensors demonstrated excellent concurrent validity for mobility metrics and UL movements of stroke survivors. Acceptability of the system was high, but alternative wristbands should be considered.

Hand Grasp Classification in Egocentric Video After Cervical Spinal Cord Injury.

The hand function of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) plays a crucial role in their independence and quality of life. Wearable cameras provide an opportunity to analyze hand function in non-clinical environments. Summarizing the video data and documenting dominant hand grasps and their usage frequency would allow clinicians to quickly and precisely analyze hand function. We introduce a new hierarchical model to summarize the grasping strategies of individuals with SCI at home. The first level classifies hand-object interaction using hand-object contact estimation. We developed a new deep model in the second level by incorporating hand postures and hand-object contact points using contextual information. In the first hierarchical level, a mean of 86% ±1.0% was achieved among 17 participants. At the grasp classification level, the mean average accuracy was 66.2 ±12.9%. The grasp classifier's performance was highly dependent on the participants, with accuracy varying from 41% to 78%. The highest grasp classification accuracy was obtained for the model with smoothed grasp classification, using a ResNet50 backbone architecture for the contextual head and a temporal pose head. We introduce a novel algorithm that, for the first time, enables clinicians to analyze the quantity and type of hand movements in individuals with spinal cord injury at home. The algorithm can find applications in other research fields, including robotics, and most neurological diseases that affect hand function, notably, stroke and Parkinson's.

Awareness Through Movement and Swiss Ball Exercise on Muscle Weakness among Subjects with Postural Syndrome

Background: A general definition of Postural syndrome is a lack of muscle strength or the quality or quantityof movements. This is typically accompanied by one or more of the following all of the joints in the body havean effect on body posture, which is the alignment of a person’s body parts with respect to one another and theirsurroundings at a specific moment in time.Purpose: To compare the effectiveness of Awareness through movements and swiss ball exercise on posturalsyndrome patients.Materials and Methods: A total of 28 individuals were chosen based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria from SaiCharan physiotherapy clinic ,Arakkonam, Ranipet, Tamil Nadu ,India. After explaining the treatment’s safety andease of use to the participants, a signed agreement was acquired. Group A [14N] Awareness through movementsare given GroupB[14N] Swiss ball movements are given. The pre test and post test results were obtained throughPatient specific functional scale.Study duration : 4 Weeks . The entire process was performed from November 2022to March 2023.Results: As a result, swiss ball exercise is more effective than awareness through movement by analyzing thestatistical values of pre test and post test.Conclusion: The study’s goal is to evaluate its effects. of swiss ball movement exercise and awareness throughmovements postural syndrome individuals in the society.

Motor skills as the basis of sensorimotor development, an essential dimension according to André Bullinger

In neonatology and pediatric intensive care units, as in pediatric units, development support care practiced according to the approach of psychologist André Bullinger takes into account sensorimotor and psychological aspects. Considering the quality and quantity of movements, from the antenatal period, allows for individualized and early care. Sensitive periods of sensorimotor development, during which brain plasticity is optimal, are decisive for psychomotor and cognitive development. Observation and evaluation of movements, as well as postural support to enable active motor skills, constitute essential elements of the developmental support provided to vulnerable children of all ages.

Anti-predator behavior in two brown frogs: differences in the mean behaviors and in the structure of animal personality variation

Predation is a major source of selection and prey are known to modify their behavior depending on their past experiences and the current perceived risk. Within a species, variation in experience and in the response to perceived risk combine to explain variation in personality and individual plasticity. Between species, variation in personality and plasticity might also be the evolutionary consequence of different selective regimes. In this study, we describe the anti-predator behavior of two closely related brown frogs, Rana dalmatina and Rana latastei, and compare their structures of personality variation. We raised tadpoles in a common garden experiment with either fish, dragonfly larvae, or no predators. Tadpoles were then repeatedly tested in the presence of the three acute stimuli and their behavioral variation was described in terms of quantity and quality of movements and of path sinuosity. In these tests, tadpoles of both species and ontogenetic treatments responded flexibly to predators by moving less, faster, and with more tortuous movements, and tadpoles raised with predators tended to move even faster. Independent of the acute treatment, R. dalmatina moved more and faster than R. latastei and the differences were larger without than with predators, demonstrating its higher plasticity. At the individual level, the two species showed qualitatively similar but quantitatively different structures of personality variation. R. dalmatina, more active, faster, and more plastic than R. latastei, showed also higher repeatability and a larger behavioral variation both among and within individuals.Significance statementPredators are a major source of selection and preys have evolved the ability to flexibly respond to them. These responses often vary among species, because of their different evolutionary histories, and among individuals, because of their different experiences. We analyzed both these sources of behavioral variation in two closely related brown frogs, Rana dalmatina and R. latastei. We raised tadpoles either with or without predators and tested them in open field trials both with and without predators. The effects of the raising environment were similar in the two species, whereas the effects of the testing arena differed. Both species decreased activity and increased speed and sinuosity with predators, but R. dalmatina moved always more and faster than R. latastei and it showed higher plasticity, larger variation among and within individuals, and relatively higher values in repeatability.

Correlation between performance and quantity/variability of leg exploration in a contingency learning task during infancy

Quantity and quality of motor exploration are proposed to be fundamental for infant motor development. However, it is still not clear what types of motor exploration contribute to learning. To determine whether changes in quantity of leg movement and/or variability of leg acceleration are related to performance in a contingency learning task, twenty 6–8-month-old infants with typical development participated in a contingency learning task. During this task, a robot provided reinforcement when the infant’s right leg peak acceleration was above an individualized threshold. The correlation coefficient between the infant’s performance and the change in quantity of right leg movement, linear variability, and nonlinear variability of right leg movement acceleration from baseline were calculated. Simple linear regression and multiple linear regression were calculated to explain the contribution of each variable to the performance individually and collectively. We found significant correlation between the performance and the change in quantity of right leg movement (r = 0.86, p < 0.001), linear variability (r = 0.71, p < 0.001), and nonlinear variability (r = 0.62, p = 0.004) of right leg movement acceleration, respectively. However, multiple linear regression showed that only quantity and linear variability of leg movements were significant predicting factors for the performance ratio (p < 0.001, adjusted R2 = 0.94). These results indicated that the quantity of exploration and variable exploratory strategies could be critical for the motor learning process during infancy.

Advanced Equipment Development and Clinical Application in Neurorehabilitation for Spinal Cord Injury: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions

Partial to complete paralysis following spinal cord injury (SCI) causes deterioration in health and has severe effects on the ability to perform activities of daily living. Following the discovery of neural plasticity, neurorehabilitation therapies have emerged that aim to reconstruct the motor circuit of the damaged spinal cord. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) has been incorporated into devices that reconstruct purposeful motions in the upper and lower limbs, the most recent of which do not require percutaneous electrode placement surgery and thus enable early rehabilitation after injury. FES-based devices have shown promising results for improving upper limb movement, including gripping and finger function, and for lower limb function such as the ability to stand and walk. FES has also been employed in hybrid cycling and rowing to increase total body fitness. Training using rehabilitation robots is advantageous in terms of consistency of quality and quantity of movements and is particularly applicable to walking training. Initiation of motor reconstruction at the early stage following SCI is likely to advance rapidly in the future, with the combined use of technologies such as regenerative medicine, brain machine interfaces, and rehabilitation robots with FES showing great promise.

Task selection for a sensor-based, wearable, upper limb training device for stroke survivors: a multi-stage approach

Purpose Post-stroke survivors report that feedback helps to increase training motivation. A wearable system (M-MARK), comprising movement and muscle sensors and providing feedback when performing everyday tasks was developed. The objective reported here was to create an evidence-based set of upper-limb tasks for use with the system. Materials and methods Data from two focus groups with rehabilitation professionals, ten interviews with stroke survivors and a review of assessment tests were synthesized. In a two-stage process, suggested tasks were screened to exclude non-tasks and complex activities. Remaining tasks were screened for suitability and entered into a categorization matrix. Results Of 83 suggestions, eight non-tasks, and 42 complex activities were rejected. Of the remaining 33 tasks, 15 were rejected: five required fine motor control; eight were too complex to standardize; one because the role of hemiplegic hand was not defined and one involved water. The review of clinical assessment tests found no additional tasks. Eleven were ultimately selected for testing with M-Mark. Conclusions Using a task categorization matrix, a set of training tasks was systematically identified. There was strong agreement between data from the professionals, survivors and literature. The matrix populated by tasks has potential for wider use in upper-limb stroke rehabilitation. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION Rehabilitation technologies that provide feedback on quantity and quality of movements can support independent home-based upper limb rehabilitation. Rehabilitation technology systems require a library of upper limb tasks at different levels for people with stroke and therapists to choose from. A user-defined and evidence-based set of upper limb tasks for use within a wearable sensor device system have been developed.

Computer-aided identification of stroke-associated motor impairments using a virtual reality augmented robotic system

ABSTRACT Neurological assessment of stroke is crucial to determine the effectiveness of the treatment routine for subsequent disabilities. Clinical assessment is commonly based on clinician's visual/physical evaluation of patient. Interactive robotic devices can provide objective measurements of movement. In this study, we propose a computer-assisted, robot-guided approach that utilises supervised and unsupervised deep learning to identify stroke-associated impairments not captured in traditional metrics. We employed spatiotemporal features of 1189 participants extracted during a robot-assisted reaching task along with an autoencoder-based classifier to distinguish stroke subjects from controls. Moreover, we utilised an unsupervised approach based on joint optimisation of an autoencoder and a self-organising map for representation learning and visualisation of stroke subjects. Our classifier achieved an average AUC of 0.93 outperforming the baselines. It could also identify stroke participants with clinically normal scores from controls with AUC . Our visualisation maps demonstrated the possibility of existence of sub-clusters in each of clinical scoring levels. Our analysis revealed that these sub-clusters differed mainly in the quantity of successful movements. To conclude, robotic technology paired with virtual/augmented reality is a tool for motion quantification. Computer-assisted evaluation of these measurements could identify impairments not captured in clinical measures.

Phenomenon of the complete suppression of cardiac activity in the Black Sea scorpionfish Scorpaena porcus (Scorpaenidae) during an alertness reaction

Teleosts serve as experimental models for the physiological and pathophysiological processes investigation, in particular those related to the heart work. Methods allowing to analyze the frequency parameters of the heart functioning over a long period of time require taking into account the peculiarities of fish behavioral reactions, that can affect the results of the experiment. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the simplest test loading (sound stimulus) on the frequency parameters of the heart activity recorded by the fiber-optic method. The objects of the study were adults of Scorpaena porcus (12–15 cm long, 80–120 g in weight). In the course of experiments, each scorpionfish was kept in a separate aquarium with seawater (400×400×350 mm), with constant temperature (21 ± 0.5) °C and given oxygen content (5.5–6.7 mg·L−1, normoxia). The heart rate (HR) recording was carried out by an invasive fiber-optic method, the essence of which is to transmit the radiation of the infrared semiconductor laser of the photoplethysmograph through a thin fiber-optic cable to the pericardial membrane of the heart and then to fix the signal reflected from the contracting myocardium in the photodetector. During implantation of the photoplethysmograph light guides, the fish were anesthetized by placing them in an anesthetic solution (urethane, 2.4 g·L−1 of seawater). In the fornix of the opercular cavity above the area of the conditional heart projection, a minimal dissection of the lining epithelium was performed, through which the underlying tissues were sequentially separated by a blunt method until the pericardial membrane was reached without breaking it. Through the lumen formed in the tissues, two optical light guide sensors were introduced to the surface of the pericardial membrane. Further, free-swimming scorpionfish participated in the experiment after a day of rehabilitation after the surgery. Additionally, we assessed the functional state of the animals by visual fixation of respiratory activity by the quantity of movements of the opercular covers per minute. During studying the test loading effect on the correct registration of the scorpionfish HR, the phenomenon of temporary complete suppression of cardiac activity was revealed, which manifested itself upon presentation of sound stimuli (alertness, “freezing” reaction). The duration of cardiac arrest was 31 to 50 seconds; it was accompanied by the cessation of movement of the opercular covers (respiratory arrest, apnea). During the restoration of cardiac activity, two types of physiological reactions were noted. The first type of recovery reaction was characterized by a simultaneous 1.5-fold increase in the HR and a 2-fold enhancement in the photoplethysmograph signal amplitude. The second type of reaction was accompanied by a rise in the HR by 22 % (p &lt; 0.05) against the backdrop of a decrement in the signal amplitude of the photoplethysmograph sensors by 28 % (p &lt; 0.05); within 120 seconds, the scorpionfish HR returned to baseline. It is assumed that the short-term delay in the scorpionfish cardiac activity is based on the phenomenon of cardiorespiratory coupling and synchronization. The behavioral reaction in the form of suppression for the cardiac and simultaneously respiratory activity generation ensures the complete absence of acoustic and electrical signals, which unmask an ambush predator location, and contributes to the scorpionfish survival.

Fetal movements: the origin of human behaviour.

The study of the onset and ontogeny of human behaviour has made it clear that a multitude of fetal movement patterns are spontaneously generated, and that there is a close association between activity and the development of peripheral and central structures. The embryo starts moving by 7.5week's gestation; 2 to 3weeks later, a number of movement patterns including general movements, isolated limb and head movements, hiccup, and breathing movements, appear. Some movements (e.g. yawning, smiling, 'pointing'; we show these in eight videos in this review) precede life-long patterns; others have intrauterine functions, such as sucking/swallowing for amniotic fluid regulation, breathing movements for lung development, or eye movements for retinal cell diversity. In cases of developmental brain dysfunction, fetal general movements alter their sequence and gestalt, which suggests a dysfunction of the developing nervous system. The scarcity of longitudinal studies calls for further comprehensive research on the predictive value of prenatal functional deviations. What this paper adds Motor output can occur in the absence of sensory input. Structural development is activity-dependent. Fetal general movements are among the first movement patterns to occur. Pregnancy-related and maternal factors impact quantity and modulation of fetal general movements. Prenatal general movement assessment has not yet brought the expected breakthrough.

Multidisciplinary team in temporomandibular disorders

Introduction The temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are one of the main concerns regarding orofacial pathologies and there are an ascending number of cases. They are characterised as a group of pathological conditions that may affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), the masticatory musculature and/or other adjacent anatomical structures, leading to pain and dysfunction [1]. The multifactorial aetiology of TMD affects a relatively large number of the world population and requires a multidisciplinary evaluation and diagnosis by the clinical team [2]. Among the various elements that constitute the multidisciplinary team we highlight the dentist and the physiotherapist. The dentist as a first-line professional, most of the time is responsible for the identification of patients potentially at risk and for the follow-up of those who already present the disease [3]. On the other hand, the physiotherapist aims to reduce musculoskeletal pain, promote muscle relaxation, reduce muscle hyperactivity, improve function by restoring the quality and quantity of mandibular movements and maximise joint mobility [4]. Description of the clinical case A 24-year-old female patient with a history of temporomandibular disorder and bruxism she presented an non-assisted mouth opening (UMO) of 28 mm and an assisted mouth opening with pain in the masseter and TMJ bilaterally of 29 mm, after the clinical assessment with the DC/TMD protocol we arrived at a diagnosis of disc displacement without reduction (DDwR) with limited opening, degenerative joint disease in the left TMJ, arthralgia (II), myofascial pain (III) in the masseter with pain referred to other anatomical regions. All the assumptions of the Helsinki Declaration have been fulfilled and an informed consent for clinical case of Clinica Dentária Egas Moniz approved by the ethic commission of Instituto Universitário Egas Moniz. The treatment plan consisted of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), prescription of muscle relaxants, occlusal splint especially for reduction of overload due to bruxism, infiltration with 1 ml of hyaluronic acid of high molecular weight in the TMJ bilaterally followed by articular mobilisation techniques and neuromuscular and myofascial techniques. The patient was instructed to continue with the physiotherapy. Results The follow up was made 2 months after with 8 sessions of physiotherapy and 1 more hyaluronic acid infiltration bilaterally as protocoled session, we could observe an absence of temporomandibular joint pain, UMO of 42 mm, decreased crepitation, decreased intensity of myofascial pain (I) and (DDwR) without limited opening. Discussion and conclusion The multidisciplinary dentist-physiotherapist team combines inputs from different professions with the aim of promoting the best patient care and represents an added value for the management of the signs/symptoms of patients with temporomandibular dysfunction.

Покази до планового хірургічного лікування вагітних при первинному симптомному хронічному захворюванню вен нижніх кінцівок, зовнішніх статевих органів, промежини або в їх поєднанні в умовах короткотермінового перебування в стаціонарі

Мета роботи: розробити і впровадити суворо індивідуальні показання до безпечного як для матері, так і дитини, ефективного патогенетичного планового хірургічного лікування вагітних із первинним симптомним хронічним захворюванням вен (ПСХЗВ) в умовах короткотермінового перебування в акушерському стаціонарі (до 72 год за термінологією IAAS).&#x0D; Матеріали і методи. На базі комунального закладу «Обласний перинатальний центр» Рівненської обласної ради за період з початку 2013р.по перший квартал 2018р. прооперовано 356 вагітних з ПСХЗВ С2s-C4s,Еp,Аs,p.Pr (basis СЕАР,2002). Показанями до планового оперативного втручання у 246 вагітних (69,1 %) – були наростання явищ хронічної венозної недостатності нижніх кінцівок, зовнішніх статевих органів, промежини не зважаючи на проведену консервативну терапію; у 84 пацієнток (23,6 %) з метою підготовки пологових шляхів до природних пологів при варикозному розширенні вен зовнішніх статевих органів та промежини, для зменшення ризиків кровотеч при можливому розриві варикозних вузлів та звужуючи покази до хірургічних пологів; у 26 хворих (7,3 %) за їх побажанням зменшення косметичних проблем, які зумовлені варикозним розширенням вен зовнішніх статевих органів і/або на відкритих частинах нижніх кінцівок. Всім оперованим вагітним виконано дуплексне сканування вен із картографуванням патологічних зон (рефлюкси, варикозні конгломерати), оцінку біофізичного профілю плода (БПП), кардіотокографію (КТГ), вивчення згортаючої системи крові, кровотік у маткових, пуповинній, середньомозковій артеріях як до, так і після операції. &#x0D; Результати досліджень та їх обговорення. Оперативні втручання виконували тільки при згоді вагітних, при відсутності протипоказань до оперативного втручання як з боку соматичного, так і акушерського статусів в умовах акушерського стаціонару. Всі оперативні втручання виконували без премедикації, для знеболення використовували тумесцентну анестезію і хірургічну методику за типом CHIVA при низхідному розвитку ПСХЗВ, а при висхідному – поєднання методик CHIVA і ASVAL. У 100 % вагітних під час оперативного втручання в післяопераційному періоді порушень соматичного статусу, тонусу матки у вагітних, серцебиття плода (дані КТГ, БПП) не зафіксовано. За суб’єктивною оцінкою вагітними, порушень кількості та якості рухів плода не зазначено, і вони у 98 % випадків вказали на позитивний клінічний результат хірургічного втручання. Оперовані у ІІ та на початку ІІІ триместрів у 85 % знаходились протягом 24 год, 10 % – на протягом 48 год в умовах стаціонару, після виписувались під спостереження акушера-гінеколога за місцем проживання, 5 % оперованих в кінці ІІІ триместру залишались в стаціонарі до пологів.

Upper-Limb Robotic Exoskeletons for Neurorehabilitation: A Review on Control Strategies.

Since the late 1990s, there has been a burst of research on robotic devices for poststroke rehabilitation. Robot-mediated therapy produced improvements on recovery of motor capacity; however, so far, the use of robots has not shown qualitative benefit over classical therapist-led training sessions, performed on the same quantity of movements. Multidegree-of-freedom robots, like the modern upper-limb exoskeletons, enable a distributed interaction on the whole assisted limb and can exploit a large amount of sensory feedback data, potentially providing new capabilities within standard rehabilitation sessions. Surprisingly, most publications in the field of exoskeletons focused only on mechatronic design of the devices, while little details were given to the control aspects. On the contrary, we believe a paramount aspect for robots potentiality lies on the control side. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide a taxonomy of currently available control strategies for exoskeletons for neurorehabilitation, in order to formulate appropriate questions toward the development of innovative and improved control strategies.

Daily Quantity of Infant Leg Movement: Wearable Sensor Algorithm and Relationship to Walking Onset.

Background: Normative values are lacking for daily quantity of infant leg movements. This is critical for understanding the relationship between the quantity of leg movements and onset of independent walking, and will begin to inform early therapy intervention for infants at risk for developmental delay. Methods: We used wearable inertial movement sensors to record full-day leg movement activity from 12 infants with typical development, ages 1–12 months. Each infant was tested three times across 5 months, and followed until the onset of independent walking. We developed and validated an algorithm to identify infant-produced leg movements. Results: Infants moved their legs tens of thousands of times per day. There was a significant effect of leg movement quantity on walking onset. Infants who moved their legs more walked later than infants who moved their legs less, even when adjusting for age, developmental level or percentile length. We will need a much larger sample to adequately capture and describe the effect of movement experience on developmental rate. Our algorithm defines a leg movement in a specific way (each pause or change in direction is counted as a new movement), and further assessment of movement characteristics are necessary before we can fully understand and interpret our finding that infants who moved their legs more walked later than infants who moved their legs less. Conclusions: We have shown that typically-developing infants produce thousands of leg movements in a typical day, and that this can be accurately captured in the home environment using wearable sensors. In our small sample we can identify there is an effect of leg movement quantity on walking onset, however we cannot fully explain it.

Effect of (minor or major) maternal trauma on fetal motility: A prospective study

BackgroundFetal motility represents the spontaneous activity of the central nervous system and as such can be used to evaluate its functional integrity. Maternal mechanical trauma in pregnancy is a risk factor for hypoxic ischemic brain injury and can potentially affect the CNS and fetal motility. AimTo study motility in fetuses after maternal trauma. Study designProspective study; 1-h sonographic observations at 2–8h (T1), 24–72h (T2) and >72h (T3) after trauma. SubjectsFetuses exposed to trauma after 20weeks gestational age. Outcome measuresMotor aspects; differentiation into specific movement patterns, quality and quantity of general movements were compared to a normal population. Obstetrical outcome; neurological outcome at term and 1year of age. ResultsSixteen fetuses were examined between 2012 and 2014. Median gestational age at time of trauma was 25+6 (range 20–38) weeks. Most traumas were traffic accidents or falls, injuries were mainly minor. Motility assessment showed abnormal differentiation in 2/16; 2/14 and 0/16; abnormal quality in 2/16; 3/14 and 6/16; and abnormal quantity in 6/16, 9/14 and 9/16 at T1, T2 and T3 respectively. Preterm delivery occurred once. Neurological development was normal in 13/14 infants at term and 14/14 at one year. ConclusionsThis study shows that maternal trauma affected fetal motility in the majority of the fetuses. The changes in motility support the concern that even minor mechanical trauma may have influence on the functional integrity of the central nervous system, although no neurological sequelae were present at 1year.

The effectiveness of massage based on the tensegrity principle compared with classical abdominal massage performed on patients with constipation

Purpose of the researchThe purpose of the study was to compare the effectiveness of massage based on the tensegrity principle and classical abdominal massage performed on patients with constipation. Materials and methodsThe study group consisted of 29 subjects with a pre-existing diagnosis of constipation based on the Rome III criteria. The patients were divided into two groups: the first group was made up of 15 patients who underwent tensegrity massage (average age: 59.8 years), and the second was made up of 14 patients who were given classical abdominal massage (average age: 55.7 years). The study consisted of six massage sessions in both groups, with two sessions per week performed over 21 days. The assessment was based on a patient questionnaire, the Rome III questionnaire and a diary of bowel movements. The results were analyzed before therapy, after one week of therapy and after the third (final) week of therapy. ResultsChanges in the number of defecations were compared between the two groups; the biggest changes occurred in the first and third week of therapy (P<0.01, calculated by the Mann–Whitey test). As a result of the therapy, tension during defecation dropped from 60% to 20% in Group I, and from 42.8% to 35.7% in Group II. The influence of the applied therapy was evaluated positively by 80% of the tensegrity massage group and 29% of the classical abdominal massage group. ConclusionsMassage based on the tensegrity principle may have a greater positive influence on the quality and quantity of bowel movements than classical abdominal massage.

PP02.9 – 2853: Neurological follow-up of infants exposed to maternal trauma in pregnancy

Objective Limited knowledge is available about neurodevelopmental outcome after intrauterine mechanical trauma exposure, although 7–8% of pregnancies are complicated by trauma. Guidelines advise hospital admission after trauma in pregnancy, which enabled a prospective evaluation of perinatal and neurological outcome. Examination of fetal motility facilitates assessment of the integrity of the central nervous system. We hypothesize a transient influence on fetal motility after maternal trauma and normal neurological development at one year in case of minor trauma. Methods Pregnant women admitted for trauma after 20 weeks gestational age (GA) between 2011 and 2014 were eligible. Cause of trauma and severity of injuries were analyzed. Three one-hour ultrasonographic observations were performed within 8 hours (T1), 24–72 hours (T2) and > 72 hours (T3) after trauma. Assessment of motility concerned differentiation into specific movement patterns, quality and quantity of general movements (normal values: de Vries et al, Early Hum Dev 1982 and 1988). Neurological examinations were performed at term equivalent age according to Prechtl and at 1 year according to Touwen and Alberta Infant Motor Scale. Results Sixteen women participated at a median GA of 25+6 (range 20–38) weeks. Most traumas were traffic accidents or falls and injuries were mainly minor. Motility assessment showed abnormal differentiation in 2/16; 2/14 and 0/16; abnormal quality in 2/16; 3/14 and 6/16; and abnormal quantity in 6/16, 9/14 and 9/16 at T1, T2 and T3 respectively. Neurological development at 0 and 1 year was normal in 15/16 and 13/13 respectively. Conclusion This preliminary evaluation shows that fetal motility was affected after maternal trauma in majority of the fetuses, however, not transiently in all within four days. The neurological outcome at 0 and 1 year was normal. The changes in motility support the concern that even minor mechanical trauma may have influence on the functional integrity of the central nervous system.

Design of a New Mathematical Model for Integrated Dynamic Cellular Manufacturing Systems and Production Planning

This paper presents a new mathematical model for integrated dynamic cellular manufacturing systems and production planning that minimizes machine purchasing, intra-cell material handling, cell reconfiguration and setup costs. The presented model forms the manufacturing cells and determines the quantity of machine and movements during each period of time. This problem is NP-hard, so a meta-heuristic algorithm based on genetic algorithm (GA) is developed to solve it. Experimental results confirm the efficiency and the effectiveness of the proposed GA to provide good solutions, especially for medium and large-sized problems.