Trunk Stability Research Articles

Feasibility randomized controlled trial of a virtual reality exergame to improve physical and cognitive functioning in older people

Background: Falls risk becomes more common with age and is associated with higher rates of disability, mortality, and healthcare costs. Exergames have shown to elicit improvements in prefrontal cortex activity, balance, and postural control of seniors, all of which are associated with fall risk, but it is unknown whether virtual reality (VR) exergames, played using a three-dimensional headset can enhance the effects of cognitive and physiological functioning. Objective: Evaluation of the effects of a co-produced VR exergame "Falling diamonds" on physical performance, trunk stability and cognition, three attributes linked to falls risk in seniors. Methods: A total of 44 physically active participants aged 60-85 years were randomized to either the immersive VR exergame (n = 14), non-immersive exergame (n = 15), or control (n = 15). Static balance, leg strength, and gait speed were measured by the Short Physical Performance Battery, trunk stability was assessed using the Prone test and cognition was evaluated by the RehaCom screening software at baseline and follow-up at 9 weeks. Results: The VR exergame group experienced greater improvements in the cognition measures of selective attention control and speed (p = .009, p = .033) more than the exergame group (p = .010) and control (p = .049, p = .004). Conclusions: The evaluation and delivery methods of VR exergame Falling diamonds are feasible, and trial measures, procedures, and intervention are deemed acceptable by participants. Our findings indicate that using a VR exergame to exercise could improve cognition in seniors.

The Effect of Core Exercise Using Online Videoconferencing Platform and Offline-Based Intervention in Postpartum Woman with Diastasis Recti Abdominis.

To investigate the efficacy of exercise intervention using a real-time video conferencing platform (ZOOM) on inter-recti distance, abdominal muscle thickness, static trunk endurance, and maternal quality of life, 37 women with diastasis recti between six months and one year postpartum were randomly divided into the online (n = 19) and offline (n = 18) groups. The online group underwent 40-min trunk stabilization exercise sessions twice a week for six weeks, through a real-time video conference platform, while the offline group attended the same program in person. The inter-recti distance and muscle thickness between the abdominal muscles were measured by rehabilitation ultrasound imaging, the Torso endurance test was used to compare the static trunk endurance, and the maternal quality of life questionnaire (MAPP-QOL, score) was applied. Significant improvements were observed in the inter-recti distance between the rectus abdominis, abdominal muscle thickness, static trunk endurance, and maternal quality of life in both groups (p < 0.001); a more significant improvement was observed in the offline group. No significant differences were observed between groups except for the left rectus abdominis thickness and Psychological/Baby and Relational/Spouse-Partner subscale in the maternal quality of life index (p > 0.05). Exercise interventions delivered in a real-time videoconferencing platform are effective at improving the inter-recti distance, trunk stability, and quality of life in postpartum women and may be an alternate to face-to-face intervention.

English

Objective: To identify possible differences in movement quality through the functional movement screen (FMS) between injured and non-injured adolescent acrobatic gymnasts in the last season. Method: descriptive, comparative, cross-sectional study involving 20 adolescent female gymnasts divided into two groups, one composed of 9 gymnasts who had suffered an injury in the last season (14,7±1,56) and the other composed of 11 gymnasts who had not suffered any injury (13,9±2,25). The FMS battery was used, consisting of seven tests: deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight leg raise, trunk stability in push-ups, trunk rotational stability. Results: Of the nine gymnasts who had sustained an injury, 66.6% were located in the lower limb, ankles and knees. The results of the total functional assessment of FMS using the Mann Whitney U statistic for independent samples showed no statistically significant differences between groups (Z = -.393; p &gt; 0.05), with the average range of FMS being similar in both cases (10.05 and 11.06 in injured and non-injured gymnasts respectively). It also showed the absence of significant differences in each of the tests of the battery, and no relationship was found through Spearman’s R statistic, between the overall FMS score and the group of injured gymnasts. Conclusion: The results of the FMS total score were slightly higher in gymnasts who were not injured last season, as well as slightly better in all the lower body tests, hence the FMS can be used as a preventive programmed to detect possible deficiencies.

The Use of Armeo®Spring Device to Assess the Effect of Trunk Stabilization Exercises on the Functional Capabilities of the Upper Limb-An Observational Study of Patients after Stroke.

Almost half of stroke patients report impaired function of the upper limb and hand. Stability of the trunk is required for the proper movement of the body, including the legs and arms. The aim of the study was to analyze the effect of trunk stabilization exercises on coordinated movement of the affected upper limb in patients after stroke, using an Armoe®Spring device and the “wall” and “abacus” functional tests. Materials and methods: This is a randomized, double-blinded study. The research was carried out in the Rehabilitation Clinic on a group of 60 stroke patients who were randomly assigned to groups differing in the rehabilitation program. The study group had physiotherapy based on the NDT Bobath concept and the control group used classic exercises. The importance of the trunk for upper limb coordination was assessed on the Armeo®Spring device using three evaluation programs, “perpendicular fishing”; “horizontal fishing”; “reaction time”, and two proprietary tests, “wall” and “abacus”. Results: The post-treatment analysis showed significantly better results in the study group for the abacus (p < 0.001), wall (p = 0.003) tests, and a significantly higher percentage of task completion in the vertical fishing (p = 0.036) and reaction time (p = 0.009) tests. Conclusions: Physiotherapy including exercises to stabilize the trunk had a significant effect on increasing the functional efficiency of the affected upper limb and on improving the handgrip strength. The Armeo®Spring device is a good device for the functional assessment of the upper limb before and after therapy.

The Effect of Different Physiotherapy Programs on Pain, Balance and Trunk Functional Capacity in Adolescents with Low Back Pain

Background. Low back pain is a common problem, adversely affecting balance and strategy for controlling the trunk muscles. There are various methods to treat low back pain, therefore, studies comparing the effectiveness of different programs can help improve the rehabilitation program for patients with low back pain.&#x0D; The aim. To evaluate the effect of trunk stabilization and balance exercises performed with different devices on pain, balance and trunk functional capacity in adolescents with low back pain.&#x0D; Methods. 12 adolescents with low back pain participated in this study. They were divided into two groups. The first group received 20 minutes of stabilization exercises and 10 minutes of balance training using the Biodex balance system. The second group received 20 minutes of stabilization exercises and 10 minutes of balance training using a vibration platform. All subjects were evaluated before and after 10 physiotherapy procedures. Self-reported pain, balance and static endurance of trunk muscles were assessed before and after the interventions.&#x0D; Results. Both programs significantly reduced pain, improved control of the center of gravity within the base of support, reduced the time required to shift weight in different paths, reduced sway index in conditions of eyes open or eyes closed on a firm or foam surface, improved dynamic and static overall postural stability and increased static endurance of trunk muscles. Improvement in control of the center of gravity within the base of support, and reduction in the time required to shift weight in different paths, were more significant in the group that received balance training using the Biodex balance system compared with that in the group that received balance training using a vibration platform.&#x0D; Conclusions. Balance training using the Biodex balance system was more effective in improving control of the center of gravity within the base of support and reducing the time required to shift weight in different paths than balance training using a vibration platform.&#x0D; Keywords: low back pain, balance, trunk stability, Biodex balance system, vibration platform.&#x0D; &#x0D;

3D축에서의 자세조절 및 시각적 피드백을 이용한 트레드밀 보행훈련이 뇌졸중 환자의 보행의 미치는 효과 : 사례연구

Asymmetrical walking pattern is a major issue that impedes functional recovery in the clinical setting. It results from the loss of the ability to maintain dynamic trunk stability and body weight balance. This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of a treadmill training performed under postural alignment corrected on a 3-D plane in people with chronic stroke. Four patients with chronic hemiparesis volunteered to participate in the study. The postural correction procedures were performed by a postural analysis system based on information obtained from a force plate with visual feedback. Then, all the subjects underwent the treadmill training with postural correction. The training was performed an hour, three times weekly for 4 weeks. Outcome measures included the 10-m walk test(10MWT), 6-min walk test(6MWT), walking ability questionnaire(WAQ), and activity-specific balance confidence scale(ABC), and gait parameters assessed by using the gait analysis system, with pretest and posttest measurements. The 10MWT, 6MWT, WAQ, and ABC scores improved by 38.30%(from 0.32 to 0.45 m/s), 59.55%(from 66.75 to 106.50 m), 17.50%(from 20.00 to 23.50 scores), and 24.49%(from 26.80% to 33.36%), respectively. In addition, remarkable improvements in step length(from 27.75 to 32.61 cm), stride length(from 52.01 to 60.31 cm), stance phase(from 61.75% to 62.00%), and swing phase(from 38.50% to 38.25%) were found on the affected side. These results indicate that the treadmill training performed under the correction of postural alignment may be favorably used to improve the walking ability in patients with post-stroke hemiparesis.

Yoga for firefighters: Evaluation of a quality improvement program in California fire departments

BackgroundFirefighters experience high levels of physical and mental challenges. Yoga interventions have suggested benefits for firefighters. MethodsThis study reports results from a quality improvement assessment at fire departments with a 10-class yoga program. Main outcome is the total score on the Functional Movement Scale (FMS), an observer-based objective performance measure. A score of at least 14 [range 0–20] is considered as protective against injury. Secondary outcome is the score on the Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA) questionnaire, a self-report measure for interoceptive bodily awareness as a parameter for a mechanism of action with yoga. We used descriptive statistics and regression analyses. ResultsBoth total FMS and MAIA scores improved statistically significantly. The strongest performance improvement was seen in trunk stability. The mean FMS score improved from below 14 to 14 and higher indicating a decrease in the risk for injury. Changes in FMS and MAIA did not appear to be correlated. DiscussionDespite the limitation of the study design, the findings support the potential benefits from a yoga program for firefighters.

Perturbation-based trunk stabilization training in elite rowers: A pilot study.

Low back pain is a major health issue in elite rowers. High training volume, frequent flexion movements of the lower spine and rotational movement in sweep rowing contribute to increased spinal strain and neuropathological patterns. Perturbation-based trunk stabilization training (PTT) may be effective to treat neuromuscular deficits and low back pain. All boat classes (8+, 4+/-, 2-) of the male German national sweep rowing team participated in this non-randomized parallel group study. We included 26 athletes (PTT: n = 12, control group: n = 14) in our analysis. Physical and Sports therapists conducted 16 individualized PTT sessions á 30-40 minutes in 10 weeks, while the control group kept the usual routines. We collected data before and after intervention on back pain intensity and disability, maximum isometric trunk extension and flexion, jump height and postural sway of single-leg stance. We found less disability (5.3 points, 95% CI [0.4, 10.1], g = 0.42) for PTT compared to control. Pain intensity decreased similar in both groups (-14.4 and -15.4 points), yielding an inconclusive between-group effect (95% CI [-16.3, 14.3]). Postural sway, strength and jump height tend to have no between- and within-group effects. Perturbation-based trunk stabilization training is possibly effective to improve the physical function of the lower back in elite rowers.

CHRONOLOGICAL AGE EFFECTS ON FUCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREENTM SCORE IN PREADOLESCENTS: A COHORT STUDY

&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D; Introduction: There is a high prevalence of "motor illiteracy" among the pediatric population. This situation can exert a negative influence on the amount and quality of physical activity, as well as the development of subsequent physical condition. The quality of movement can be known by applying the Functional Movement Screen (FMSTM). However, there are few studies using FMSTM in preadolescent population.&#x0D; Objective: Therefore, the objective of the present study was to examine the scores obtained with the FMSTM by subgroups in preadolescents.&#x0D; Methods: FMSTM was administered according to standard procedures which consist in seven movements and scores (0-3) of each exercise were recorded in 213 preadolescents (13.47±1.9 years). The sample was divided by quartiles of age for analysis [(Q1 N = 53, from 0 to 11.79 years); (Q2 N = 54, from 11.79 to 13.59 years); (Q3 N = 53, from 13.59 to 14.91 years); (Q4 N = 53 over 14 years old).&#x0D; Results: There are differences in the final score between Q1 vs Q3 and Q1 vs Q4 (p &lt;0.05). In the in line lunge the score differences obtained by Q4 are higher than Q1 (-0.58, p≤ 0.001) and Q2 (-0.65, p≤ 0.001). In trunk stability Q4 gets a score higher than Q1 (-0.88) (p≤ 0.001). In leg raising, Q1 scored lower (p &lt;0.05) than Q4 (-0.45).&#x0D; Conclusions: Chronological age can influence the ability to move and the scores on in line lunge, trunk stability and leg raising tests in preadolescents. In addition, Q4 scores better than Q1 and could be associated with the maturational status.&#x0D; &#x0D; &#x0D;

Interdisciplinary Co-Design Research Practice in the Rehabilitation of Elderly Individuals with Chronic Low Back Pain from a Senior Care Center in South Korea

The rehabilitation practices encounter multifaceted problems inherent in the current context of the elderly with chronic low back pain (LBP). We addressed a particular multifaceted problem in the current context using an interdisciplinary co-design research practice that consists of three phases: context exploration, patient-expert interaction, and patient-centered rehabilitation. Using an empirical study integrated with this practice, we investigated 30 Korean elderly patients suffering from LBP and introduced an exercise program design. In the context exploration phase, we found that the elderly patients neglected proper posture during work causing spine instability and resultantly developing chronic LBP. The patient–expert interaction phase explored latissimus dorsi (LD) and lumbar erector spinae (LES) muscles as the back trunk muscles that had caused LBP in most of these elderly patients. In the patient-centered rehabilitation phase, we designed an exercise program with exercise protocols and an exercise object for flexion and extension of trunk muscle relaxation and stabilization. Using electromyography (EMG), we found that the exercise program significantly increased the muscle activation levels of the muscles and reduced LBP. Our practice defines and addresses a multifaceted problem with several challenges both in healthcare design and the problem itself. This integrated approach can easily be expanded and adapted to other domain-related research projects that possess characteristics of complex problems.

Comparison of Dynamic Limb Valgus and Stiff Landing Between Limbs with and Without Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Background:Dynamic limb valgus and stiff landing are two known risk factors for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. These biomechanical risk factors can be evaluated through motion analysis testing.Hypothesis/Purpose:The purpose of this study was to compare risk scores for dynamic limb valgus and stiff landing between limbs with recent ACL reconstruction and uninjured (contralateral and control) limbs.Methods:Sports motion analysis data were reviewed for 177 pediatric patients after recent primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR) and 63 uninjured control subjects ages 8-17 years. 3D motion analysis data were collected while subjects performed the following sports-related tasks: heel touch from 6” or 9” step (depending if height >155 cm), drop jump from 41 cm height, lateral shuffle, forward-backwards deceleration, single leg hop, and 45° cutting. Each limb was scored for components of dynamic limb valgus (hip stability, pelvis stability, trunk stability) and stiff landing (shock absorption, hip strategy) based on the kinematic and kinetic measures in Table 1. Each scoring category was rated for each applicable task as adequate (2), borderline (1), or inadequate (0) based on values from the literature and laboratory norms. Percentage scores by scoring category were compared among reconstructed, contralateral, and control limbs using chi-square tests and ANOVA.Results:For the overall risk factors, stiff landing was worse in controls compared with both the reconstructed and contralateral limbs of patients (p<0.001), but dynamic limb valgus was worse in the ACLR limbs (p≤0.03) (Figure 1). Shock absorption (p<0.001), hip strategy (p<0.001), and trunk stability (p=0.005) differed significantly between groups. Shock absorption and hip strategy were both worse in the control group compared with the patient reconstructed and contralateral limbs, while trunk stability was best in the control group and worst in the ACLR group.Conclusion:Post-operative ACLR patients demonstrated better biomechanics than controls on both the reconstructed and contralateral limbs in terms of avoiding stiff landing, particularly through better shock absorption. This may reflect training in proper biomechanics during physical therapy and rehabilitation. ACLR limbs were worse than control limbs only in trunk stability, which can be corrected with targeted training and awareness. Motion analysis is useful for identifying risky movement patterns so biomechanics can be corrected prior to return to play.Table 1Kinematic and kinetic variables used for each scoring categoryFigure 1.Distribution of scores for stiff landing and dynamic limb valgus for each group

Cervical afferents are necessary for closed‐loop epidural stimulation‐induced respiratory neuroplasticity

Epidural electrical stimulation restores vital functions in neurological disorders such as stroke and spinal cord injury. After spinal injury, epidural stimulation improves locomotion, cardiovascular and bladder function, and trunk stability via neuromodulation of spinal neural networks. We have shown in rats that four days of epidural stimulation given via a closed‐loop paradigm (CLES) elicits spinal respiratory plasticity (Malone et al., FASEB J 2020;2021). Precise mechanisms of these effects in other sensorimotor systems are unclear, but modeling (Capogrosso et al., 2013) and rodent (Lavrov et a., 2008) studies suggest that inputs from segmental sensory afferent neurons are essential. We hypothesized that intact sensory afferents from the diaphragm (e.g. C3‐C5) are necessary for CLES‐induced respiratory plasticity. To test this, adult, female, Sprague‐Dawley rats were implanted with CLES electrodes at C4 and bilateral diaphragm recording electrodes (n=14). A subset of rats received C3‐C5 cervical dorsal rhizotomy (CDR) at the time of electrode implantation (n=6). After 1 week of recovery, rats received CLES (sub‐motor threshold epidural stimulation triggered by diaphragm EMG) ~20hr per day for 14 days. Inspiratory‐triggered spinal motor evoked potentials were recorded every 2 days. CLES for 2 weeks facilitated left diaphragm peak to peak amplitude of the stimulus‐triggered average in sham rats on all days measured (vs. day 0; all p&lt; 0.05). Right diaphragm in sham animals only showed facilitation on day 12 vs day 0 (0.005 vs 0.003; p&lt;0.05). In contrast, CDR rats exhibited blunted peak to peak magnitudes vs sham on all days except day 6 in the left diaphragm where there was also facilitation (vs day 0; p&lt;0.05). Days 2, 4, 12 and 14 of peak to peak magnitude in the right diaphragm of CDR rats was significantly lower than sham (all p&lt;0.05) and vs day 0 (all p&lt;0.05). In addition, motor threshold (e.g. the lowest current that can elicit an evoked potential) was significantly higher in CDR vs sham rats on days 4 (14.27% ± 15.02%; p=0.005), 6 (19.23% ± 21.89% vs ‐29.43% ± 3.77%; p=0.003), and 8 (18.10% ± 16.05% vs ‐20.25% ± 10.34%; p=0.004). These results suggest that CDR may attenuate the magnitude of the evoked potential and capacity to facilitate over the course of 14 days. However, it appears some compensatory plasticity may be occurring after CDR since 1) the increase in motor thresholds return to what is seen in sham animals after day 10 of CLES and 2) facilitation of the stimulus triggered average was seen on day 6 in the left diaphragm. It is also interesting to note the differential effects of CLES on right vs. left diaphragm, highlighting the differences in innervation or possible laterality in the capacity for spinal plasticity in this setting. Ongoing immunohistochemical analyses of C3‐C5 spinal cord and diaphragm may lend more insight into the mechanistic underpinnings of these results. This work represents the first report that long‐term (i.e. 2 weeks) CLES can elicit spinal respiratory neuroplasticity in healthy, awake, freely‐behaving rats and that intact sensory afferents may be necessary for this to occur. Future studies will be essential to elucidate the therapeutic potential of neuromodulation for improvement of respiratory deficits in individuals with neurological disorders.

Trunk Stabilization and Its Rehabilitative Effects in Children with Cerebral Palsy

The trunk has a major role in providing dynamic stabilization in postural reactions. It also plays a critical role in supporting upper and lower extremity movements, loading, and protecting the spine. Trunk stabilization is the maintenance of trunk postural control and movement despite the disturbing effects of gravity, internal and external perturbations. Cerebral palsy (CP) is a non-progressive neurodevelopmental disease. Weak trunk control is common among children with CP. Trunk stability is important in rehabilitation because of its contribution to the child’s activity and participation. However, the results of trunk stabilization training in CP rehabilitation are limited, and few studies have emphasized the importance of trunk stabilization in CP. Considering the growing interest in supportive and novel rehabilitation methods in children with CP, this paper aimed to (i) describe the main features of neck and trunk stabilization (ii) summarize the possible therapeutic effects of neck and trunk stabilization methods based on different approaches in patients with CP. As a result, the literature demonstrates that these exercises benefit the rehabilitation process in reducing the negative effects of trunk instability. Increasing trunk stabilization with different techniques can improve the child’s upper-lower extremity skills, visual-perceptual functions and balance abilities.

Investigation of the effects of trunk stabilization training combined with aerobic training on balance, lower limb muscle strength, and core stability in patients with Multiple Sclerosis: a randomized controlled study

Amaç: Çalışmanın amacı, Multipl Skleroz (MS) hastalarında aerobik eğitim ile kombine gövde stabilizasyon eğitiminin denge, alt ekstremite kas kuvveti ve kor stabilite üzerine etkilerinin incelenmesiydi.Yöntem: Çalışmaya relapsing remitting tip MS tanısı alan 16 birey dahil edildi. MS-egzersiz grubuna (6’sı kadın, 2’si erkek) aerobik eğitim ile kombine gövde stabilizasyon eğitimi, MS-aktif kontrol grubuna (5’i kadın, 3’ü erkek) aerobik eğitim verildi. Haftada 2 gün ve toplam 8 hafta olmak üzere egzersiz eğitimi uygulandı. Denge, alt ekstremite kas kuvveti ve kor endurans tedavi öncesi ve sonrası değerlendirildi.Bulgular: Çalışma sonucunda MS-egzersiz grubunda dengenin alt parametreleri olan postüral stabilite ve stabilite limitinde, alt ekstremite kas kuvveti ve kor enduransta anlamlı gelişme olduğu (p&amp;lt;0,05), MS-aktif kontrol grubunda postüral stabilite ve alt ekstremite kas kuvvetinde anlamlı gelişme olduğu (p&amp;lt;0,05), stabilite limiti ve kor endurans değerlerlerinde ise anlamlı bir değişim olmadığı belirlendi (p&amp;gt;0,05). MS-egzersiz ve MS-aktif kontrol gruplarının eğitim öncesi ve sonrası stabilite limitleri ve kor endurans test sonuçlarının farkları arasında anlamlı bir değişim olduğu (p&amp;lt;0,05), postüral stabilite ve alt ekstremite kas kuvveti test sonuçlarının farkları arasında ise anlamlı bir değişim olmadığı gözlemlendi (p&amp;gt;0,05).Sonuç: Aerobik eğitim ile kombine gövde stabilizasyon eğitimi denge, alt ekstremite kas kuvveti ve kor endurans üzerine etkilidir. Aerobik eğitim ile kombine gövde stabilizasyon eğitiminin daha ileri özür düzeyindeki relapsing-remitting tip MS hastalarında daha uzun süreli etkilerinin araştırılacağı çalışmalara ihtiyaç vardır.

Efektifitas Massage Deep Friction dan Latihan Stabilisasi Trunk Pada Cerebral Palsy

Cerebal Palsy is a permanent disorder in the development of movement and non-progressive body posture in the form of muscle tone abnormalities that cause postural tone disorders in the form of spasticity, especially in the legs, sitting balance so that the patient's daily functional activities are disrupted. This study aims to determine the effect of deep friction massage and trunk stabilization exercises on sitting balance and spasticity in cerebral palsy patients. This type of research is a pre-experiment with a one-group pre-test-post-test design. It was held at the Makassar special school from August to October 2018, with a research sample of 17 cerebral palsy patients. Sitting balance data was obtained using a pediatric balance scale and leg spasticity data was obtained using the Asworth scale. The results of the Paired sample T Test obtained p = 0.000 for spasticity and sitting balance with p = 0.000 after being given deep friction massage and trunk stabilization exercises. Thus deep friction massage and trunk stabilization exercises are effective in improving sitting balance and spasticity in cerebral palsy patients.

Relationship between Trunk Performance and the Stair Ascending and Descending in Post Stroke Subjects

Purpose and Objective:- Trunk being the central keypoint of the body, good trunk stability is essential for reaching and grasping and proximal trunk control is a prerequisite for distal lower limb movement control in functional activities like walking and stair climbing. There are several clinical tools to measure trunk performance such as The sitting balance item of the Motor assessment scale, The trunk control test, leg and trunk scale of the Rivermead Motor Assessment Scale. The Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS) a new tool to measure motor impairment of trunk after stroke was developed in 2004 by G Verheyden et al. Studies were conducted to correlate the TIS with Tinette, TUG test, 10 min walk test. However studies were not conducted to show the relationship between the trunk impairment and stair climbing in stroke subject. Design:- Correlational study Settings:-HOSMAT Hospital, BangaloreSubjects:-A total of 32 stroke subjects with a mean (SD) age of 53.90 ± 13.07 yrs. 21 males and 11 females participated.Method:-All the 32 subjects were administered with TIS and then followed by stair ascend and descend test. Outcome measures:- TIS, Stair ascend and descend test.Results:-The median scores of static, dynamic sitting balance and coordination ( 5, 6, 1) respectively. Mean score of stair ascend - 18.87±11.05 and for stair descend - 20.60±12.43.There was a moderate negative correlation between TIS and stair ascend with rs= -0.54 (P=0.001), moderate negative correlation between TIS and stair descend with rs=-0.63(P=0.001) and also moderate negative correlation between TIS and stair ascend + descend rs= 0.58(P=0.001).Conclusion:-The Trunk impairment scale shows moderate correlation with the stair ascend and descend test, which suggests that a person scoring less on the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS ) takes more time to ascend and descend the stairs.

Minimal Contact Robotic Stroke Rehabilitation on Risk of COVID-19, Work Efficiency and Sensorimotor Function.

Patients with hemiparetic stroke undergo direct, labor-intensive hands-on conventional physical therapy to improve sensorimotor function, spasticity, balance, trunk stability, and activities of daily living (ADLs). Currently, direct, intensive hands-on therapeutic modalities have increased concerns during the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic. We developed an innovative Walkbot to mitigate the issues surrounding conventional hands-on physical therapy. We aimed to compare the effects of minimal-contact robotic rehabilitation (MRR) and full-contact conventional rehabilitation (FCR) on static and dynamic balance, trunk stability, ADLs, spasticity, and cognition changes in patients with hemiparetic stroke. A total of 64 patients with hemiparetic stroke (mean age = 66.38 ± 13.17; 27 women) underwent either MRR or FCR three times/week for 6 weeks. Clinical outcome measurements included the Trunk Impairment Scale (TIS), the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), the modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), the Fugl—Meyer Assessment (FMA), and the modified Barthel Index (MBI) scores. A 2 × 2 repeated analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed, and an independent t-test was used to determine statistical differences in the physiotherapists’ work efficiency and COVID-19 transmission risk. The ANOVA showed that MRR had effects superior to those of FCR on the TIS, the BBS, the FMA, and the MBI (p < 0.05), but not on the MAS (p = 0.230). MRR showed a greater decrease on the physiotherapist’s work efficiency and COVID-19 transmission risk (p < 0.05). Our results provide clinical evidence that robot-assisted locomotor training helps maximize the recovery of sensorimotor function, abnormal synergy, balance, ADLs, and trunk stability, and facilitates a safer environment and less labor demand than conventional stroke rehabilitation.

ARE SHOULDER MOBILITY TEST SCORES RELATED TO THROWING PERFORMANCE OR ARE THEY AN INJURY SIGNAL

Throws branch is a sport that has the risk of injury due to the movement patterns consisting of excessive repetitions and the need for explosive power production. For this reason, it is important for the athlete's sports career to be able to determine the injury risks beforehand and to take protective measures. This study was aimed to evaluate the functional movement scores of young athletes competing in throwing branches. A total of 11 athletes (7 male and 4 female, aged 14-19), who participated in regional and national competitions and continued training regularly, were participated in the study. After analyzing the physical and anthropometric characteristics of the participants (height, body weight, body mass index and body composition parameters) Functional Movement Screen (FMS™) test measurements were applied. Trunk stability push-up test had the lowest average score of 2.18 in the test. In male participants, hurdle step, in-line lunge, trunk stability push up shoulder mobility test results demonstrated that was asymmetry. Active straight leg raise and shoulder mobility test results in asymmetry results in female participants are remarkable. The functional movement screening test total score average was found to be 17 for both genders. Also non-significant correlations between shoulder mobility and overhead medicine ball throwing tests. The results showed that shoulder mobility test scores cannot be used to predict throwing performance in young track and field thrower athletes. There is a need for studies with large participant groups evaluating both genders in sports that use repetitive movement patterns in future research.

Nonlinear response of human trunk musculature explains neuromuscular stabilization mechanisms in sitting posture

Objective. Determining the roles of underlying mechanisms involved in stabilizing the human trunk during sitting is a fundamental challenge in human motor control. However, distinguishing their roles requires understanding their complex interrelations and describing them with physiologically meaningful neuromechanical parameters. The literature has shown that such mechanistic understanding contributes to diagnosing and improving impaired balance as well as developing assistive technologies for restoring trunk stability. This study aimed to provide a comprehensive characterization of the underlying neuromuscular stabilization mechanisms involved in human sitting. Approach. This study characterized passive and active stabilization mechanisms involved in seated stability by identifying a nonlinear neuromechanical physiologically-meaningful model in ten able-bodied individuals during perturbed sitting via an adaptive unscented Kalman filter to account for the nonlinear time-varying process and measurement noises. Main results. We observed that the passive mechanism provided instant resistance against gravitational disturbances, whereas the active mechanism provided delayed complementary phasic response against external disturbances by activating appropriate trunk muscles while showing non-isometric behavior. The model predicted the trunk sway behavior during perturbed sitting with high accuracy and correlation (average: 0.0007 (rad2) and 86.77%). This allows a better mechanistic understanding of the roles of passive and active stabilization mechanisms involved in sitting. Significance. Our characterization approach accounts for the inherently nonlinear behavior of the neuromuscular mechanisms and physiological uncertainties, while allowing for real-time tracking and correction of parameters’ variations due to external disturbances and muscle fatigue. The outcome of our research, for the first time, (a) allows a better mechanistic understanding of the roles of passive and active stabilization mechanisms involved in sitting; (b) enables objective evaluation and targeted rehabilitative interventions for impaired balance; facilitate bio-inspired designs of assistive technologies, and (c) opens new horizons in mathematical identification of neuromechanical mechanisms employed in the stable control of human body postures and motions.

Functional movement screen dataset collected with two Azure Kinect depth sensors

This paper presents a dataset for vision-based autonomous Functional Movement Screen (FMS) collected from 45 human subjects of different ages (18–59 years old) executing the following movements: deep squat, hurdle step, in-line lunge, shoulder mobility, active straight raise, trunk stability push-up and rotary stability. Specifically, shoulder mobility was performed only once by different subjects, while the other movements were repeated for three episodes each. Each episode was saved as one record and was annotated from 0 to 3 by three FMS experts. The main strength of our database is twofold. One is the multimodal data provided, including color images, depth images, quaternions, 3D human skeleton joints and 2D pixel trajectories of 32 joints. The other is the multiview data collected from the two synchronized Azure Kinect sensors in front of and on the side of the subjects. Finally, our dataset contains a total of 1812 recordings, with 3624 episodes. The size of the dataset is 190 GB. This dataset provides the opportunity for automatic action quality evaluation of FMS.