Video-based Motion Analysis Research Articles

Accuracy of Kinovea-based kinematic gait analysis compared to a three-dimensional motion analysis system in healthy dogs.

The goal of this study was to compare the accuracy of kinematic measurements obtained using the 2-D video-based kinematic motion analysis (KMA) software Kinovea (version 0.9.5; http://www.kinovea.org) with 3-D KMA in healthy dogs. In this prospective study, 3-D marker-based KMA (VICON-Nexus, version 2.12.1, and Procalc, version 1.6; VICON Motion Systems Ltd) was performed on healthy dogs (body weight ≥ 20 kg; height at withers > 50 cm) walking on a treadmill (study period: November 2022). Simultaneously, dogs were video recorded by 1 smartphone (iPhone SE; Apple Inc) at a 1.50-m distance perpendicular to the shoulder (60 frames per second; 1,920 X 1,080 pixels) for KMA using Kinovea. Joint angle and joint angle velocity of the shoulder, elbow, carpus, hip, stifle, and tarsus were calculated for 6 synchronized gait cycles. Each gait cycle was divided into 10 increments. The difference between 3-D KMA and Kinovea was assessed for each parameter using robust linear mixed-effects models. 34 dogs were included. The estimated joint angle difference between 3-D KMA and Kinovea was less than 2° for all shoulder and elbow gait cycle increments. For the carpus, hip, stifle, and tarsus, the difference was less than 2° in 9, 5, 4, and 4 out of 10 gait cycle increments, respectively. Kinovea provides accurate kinematic data for the shoulder and elbow of healthy dogs. Carpal, hip, stifle, and tarsal kinematics were less accurate. The use of Kinovea for clinical and research purposes remains limited. Future Kinovea-based studies are needed to investigate the accuracy of carpal, hip, stifle, and tarsal kinematics.

Appropriate dosage, timing, and site of intramuscular injections of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) promote motor recovery after facial nerve injury in rats.

Daily intramuscular injections of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) but not of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) significantly improve whisking behavior and mono-innervation of the rat levator labii superioris (LLS) muscle 56 days after buccal nerve transection and suture (buccal-buccal anastomosis, BBA). We explored the dose-response of BDNF, FGF2, and insulin growth factor 2 (IGF2) on the same parameters, asking whether higher doses of BDNF would promote recovery. After BBA, growth factors were injected (30 μL volume) daily into the LLS muscle over 14, 28, or 56 days. At 56 days, video-based motion analysis of vibrissal whisking was performed and the extent of mono- and poly-reinnervation of the reinnervated neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) of the muscle determined with immunostaining of the nerve with β-tubulin and histochemical staining of the endplates with Alexa Fluor 488-conjugated α-bungarotoxin. The dose-response curve demonstrated significantly higher whisking amplitudes and corresponding increased mono-innervation of the NMJ in the reinnervated LLS muscle at concentrations of 20-30 μg/mL BDNF administered daily for 14-28 days after BBA surgery. In contrast, high doses of IGF2 and FGF2, or doses of 20 and 40 μg/mL of BDNF administered for 14-56 days had no effect on either whisking behavior or in reducing poly-reinnervation of endplates in the muscle. These data suggest that the re-establishment of mono-innervation of whiskerpad muscles and the improved motor function by injections of BDNF into the paralyzed vibrissal musculature after facial nerve injury have translation potential and promote clinical application.

Futbolda Motor Becerinin Öğrenilmesinde Kombine Zihinsel ve Fiziksel Antrenmanın Değerlendirilmesi

Mental imagery is an essential element in the human movement system. Research in the sports psychology literature shows that training with motor imagery (mental practice) is an effective strategy for improving motor performance in planning and executing goal-directed movements. The primary objective of this study is to explore the impacts of integrating mental and physical training on the acquisition of a demanding football motor skill, specifically the "head kick." A total of 40 participants, consisting of 18 women and 22 men, who were students from the Physical Education & Sports department at Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University, were randomly divided into two groups: one group receiving combined physical education and mental practice, and the other group solely undergoing physical education training. The Vividness of Movement Imagery Questionnaire–2 (VMIQ-2; Roberts et al., 2008) and video analysis procedure were used in this study. Based on the research problem, the Repeated Measure ANOVA test was used. Motor skill performance was assessed both before and after an eight-week training period. To gauge improvements in motor skill acquisition, three independent expert evaluators analyzed video recordings of the motor task before and after training in both situations. The findings highlighted that engaging in mental imagery exercises improved timing and coordination, emphasizing the potential effectiveness of this intervention for enhancing proficiency in intricate motor skills. These study findings also illustrate the practicality and precision of employing video-based motion analysis to gauge enhancements in motor performance.

Mobile Device-Based Video Screening for Infant Head Lag: An Exploratory Study.

Video-based automatic motion analysis has been employed to identify infant motor development delays. To overcome the limitations of lab-recorded images and training datasets, this study aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) model using videos taken by mobile phone to assess infants' motor skills. A total of 270 videos of 41 high-risk infants were taken by parents using a mobile device. Based on the Pull to Sit (PTS) levels from the Hammersmith Motor Evaluation, we set motor skills assessments. The videos included 84 level 0, 106 level 1, and 80 level 3 recordings. We used whole-body pose estimation and three-dimensional transformation with a fuzzy-based approach to develop an AI model. The model was trained with two types of vectors: whole-body skeleton and key points with domain knowledge. The average accuracies of the whole-body skeleton and key point models for level 0 were 77.667% and 88.062%, respectively. The Area Under the ROC curve (AUC) of the whole-body skeleton and key point models for level 3 were 96.049% and 94.333% respectively. An AI model with minimal environmental restrictions can provide a family-centered developmental delay screen and enable the remote monitoring of infants requiring intervention.

Prediction of gait kinetics using Markerless-driven musculoskeletal modeling

Video-based motion analysis systems are emerging in the biomechanics research community, yet there is limited exploration of kinetics prediction using RGB-markerless kinematics and musculoskeletal modeling. This project aimed to provide ground reaction force (GRF) and ground reaction moment (GRM) predictions during over-ground gait by introducing RGB-markerless kinematics into a musculoskeletal modeling framework. Full-body markerless kinematic inputs and musculoskeletal modeling were used to obtain GRF and GRM predictions which were compared to measured force plate values. The markerless-driven predictions yielded average root mean-squared error (RMSE) in the stance phase of 0.035 ± 0.009 N∙BW−1, 0.070 ± 0.014 N∙BW−1, and 0.155 ± 0.041 N∙BW−1 in the mediolateral (ML), anteroposterior (AP), and vertical (V) GRFs. This was accompanied by moderate to high correlations and interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) indicating moderate to good agreement between measured and predicted values (95% Confidence Inervals: ML = [0.479, 0.717], AP = [0.714, 0.856], V = [0.803, 0.905]). For ground reaction moments (GRM), average RMSE was 0.029 ± 0.013 Nm∙BWH-1, 0.014 ± 0.005 Nm∙BWH-1, and 0.005 ± 0.002 Nm∙BWH-1 in the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes. Pearson correlations and ICCs indicated poor agreement between systems for GRMs (95% Confidence Intervals: Sagittal = [0.314, 0.608], Frontal = [0.006, 0.373], Transverse = [0.269, 0.570]). Currently, RMSE is larger than target thresholds set from studies using Kinect, inertial, or marker-based kinematic drivers; but methodological considerations highlighted in this work may help guide follow-up iterations. At this point, further use in research or clinical practice is cautioned until methodological considerations are addressed, although results are promising at this point.

P30: Remote and In-Clinic Teletracking and Analysis for Enhanced Rheumatologic Examination

Purpose: Rheumatoid arthritis and related arthritides associated with chronic joint inflammation of the hands significantly affects range of motion and daily living functionality due to stiffness, pain, and swelling. It is vital to closely monitor changes in joint flexibility across the progression of this disease state to assess treatment efficacy and provide informed quantitative analysis. Our group previously developed and reported on a video-based motion analysis system with a wide range of utility. Using this system, we evaluated the range of motion of radiocarpal and phalangeal joints in arthritic versus normal subjects. We hypothesized that use of this system in clinic and at home would provide accurate and quantitative data on joint flexibility and also allow assessment of progression of flexibility of affected joints in patients experiencing joint inflammation across their treatment timelines. Methods: Healthy volunteers and those experiencing self-reported, clinically-diagnosed arthritis were instructed via a telehealth remote platform to place small brightly-colored visual markers (1cm2) on their hands. Using our video motion analysis system, video recordings were captured as subjects performed: 1) wrist flexion and extension, 2) finger flexion and extension, and 3) finger adduction and abduction. The digital recordings were imaged as a motion signature and the data was analyzed to obtain the angle (degrees) of rotation about the joints by correcting full extension/adduction to a “zero degrees” baseline and calculating the degrees of flexion/abduction at the peak point. This protocol allowed for versatility of analysis based on the treatment course providing novel access to patient monitoring outside of the clinic setting. Results: Range of motion of the radiocarpal and phalangeal joints measured in degrees was successfully recorded on both healthy (n=14, 9F 5M) and arthritic subjects (n=8, 4M 4F) in a virtual setting via the video motion analysis system. In all cases the system offered the resolution required to determine overall joint flexibility. A clear quantitative distinction was detected between arthritic patients versus health subjects. Conclusion: A video motion analysis system utilizing small markers can characterize, track, and compare joint flexibility in at-home settings for rheumatoid arthritis and related joint diseases. With face-to-face clinic time being an increasingly limited commodity, this system offers a valuable, digital tool to not only assess patients remotely but it adds a quantitative dimension previously absent in the Rheumatologic exam. As this project continues, arthritis subjects will be monitored over time to assess functionality of disease-state tracking across a treatment time course. Digital assessment of joint flexibility is a useful addition to the diagnostic armamentarium of the Rheumatologist, Orthopedist and related Health Care providers enhancing the precision of diagnosis and therapy.

Implementation of 2D Running Gait Analysis in Orthopedic Physical Therapy Clinics.

Despite 2D motion analysis deemed valid and reliable in assessing gait deviations in runners, current use of video-based motion analysis among orthopedic physical therapists is not prevalent. To investigate clinician-perceived effectiveness, adherence, and barriers to using a 2D running gait analysis protocol for patients with running-related injuries. Survey. Thirty outpatient physical therapy clinics were contacted to assess interest in participation. Participating therapists were trained on 2D running gait analysis protocol and given a running gait checklist. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework was used to assess the implementation process by collecting a baseline survey at the beginning of the study, effectiveness and implementation surveys at two months, and a maintenance survey at six months. Twelve of the 15 responding clinics met eligibility criteria, giving a Reach rate of 80%. Twelve clinicians from 10 different clinics participated, giving an Adoption rate of 83%. For Effectiveness, the majority of clinicians valued having a checklist, and reported the protocol was easy to conduct, the methodology was reasonable and appropriate, and patients saw the benefits of using the protocol. Assessing Implementation, 92% performed all steps of the protocol on all appropriate runners. Average time spent conducting the protocol was 32 minutes. With respect to Maintenance, 50% reported continuing to use the protocol, while 50% answered they were not to continue use. Clinicians expressed a perceived benefit of implementing a running gait analysis protocol with common themes of ease of use, being a useful adjunct to evaluating a patient, and increased satisfaction with treating injured runners. Potential barriers for not using the protocol included not having an appropriate clinic setup, time constraints, and not having adequate caseload. 3b.

Biomechanical properties of the discus throw: analytical case study of the Paralympic record holder in the F33 category

PurposeThe study aims to determine the kinematic and kinetic characteristics of the discus throwing competition for the Paralympic record holder in the F33 category, the champion Hani Al-Nakhli, silver medalist in the London 2012 Paralympic and the World Champion in the discus throw (height: 1.71 m, weight: 96 kg, age: 35 years, training age: 14 years). MethodsThe player's performance was photographed during a training session in the middle of the competitive phase of the 2021/2022 season using three GoPro Hero 6 cameras, each set at a frame rate of 60fps. A video-based motion and skill analysis tool for Windows was used to choose the best approach for creating a 3D biomechanical analysis. ResultsThe values of the Paralympic champion were presented and discussed, and the researchers improved the player's ability to work—increasing the acceleration distance of the disc by up to 1.85 m with an acceleration within a period of 0.40 s. Thus, high-speed rates of up to 16.77 m s−1 was achieved during the launch, with the disposal of the disc at an angle of clearance of 37° and a starting height of 1.36 m, resulting in 27 m. The values of the kinetic analysis represented the need to increase the tangential potential energy of the body by 1884 J during disposal while increasing the tangential kinetic energy of the body by a value of 9.93 J. This is achieved by increasing the rotational kinetic energy of the body of the player to reach high achievement distances for class F33. It is recommended to use the results of the variables in the training process to prepare champions for the discus throwing competition.

Reliability and validity of 2-dimensional video analysis for a running task: A systematic review

ObjectiveEvaluate the reliability and validity of 2-dimensional (2D) video-based motion analysis during running. MethodsA systematic search of MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, PEDro, SPORTDiscus, and IEEE Xplore was conducted in March 2020 and updated in May 2021. We included studies assessing reliability and/or validity of 2D video-based motion analysis (gold standard: 3D motion analysis) during running. Results11 studies (251 runners; mean age range: 18.7–37.0 years; 57.4% female; 63.7% injury-free) met inclusion criteria. Eight studies examined kinematics of the pelvis/hip, eight of the knee, and six of the ankle/foot. Low-to-moderate risk of bias was present in all studies. Heterogeneous study designs, measurement methods, and statistical approaches across studies precluded statistical synthesis. Intrarater reliability [Interclass correlation coefficient (ICC) range: 0.56–1.00; kappa range: 0.49–0.81] was better than interrater reliability (ICC range: 0.31–1.00; kappa range 0.00–0.85). ICC values for validity were poor to good (0.06–0.89). One study examining foot strike pattern found good to excellent validity (using Gwet AC statistics) when movement kinematics were categorized. ConclusionsA wide range of methods were reported in 2D video-based motion analysis of joint angular kinematics during a running task. Further research to develop standardized 2D video-based motion analysis for running is needed. Categorizing movement patterns may be more useful than angularly quantifying joint kinematics.

Detection of Carotid Artery Stenosis Based on Video Motion Analysis for Fast Screening.

BackgroundCarotid artery stenosis (CAS) is a common cause of ischemic stroke, and the early detection of CAS may improve patient outcomes. Carotid Doppler ultrasound is commonly used to diagnose CAS. However, it is costly and may not be practical for regular screening practice. This article presents a novel noninvasive and noncontact detection technique using video‐based motion analysis (VMA) to extract useful information from subtle pulses on the skin surface to screen for CAS.Methods and ResultsWe prospectively enrolled 202 patients with prior carotid Doppler ultrasound data. A short 30‐second video clip of the neck was taken using a commercial mobile device and analyzed by VMA with mathematical quantification of the amplitude of skin motion changes in a blinded manner. The first 40 subjects were used to set up the VMA protocol and define cutoff values, and the following 162 subjects were used for validation. Overall, 54% of the 202 subjects had ultrasound‐confirmed CAS. Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve of VMA‐derived discrepancy values to differentiate patients with and without CAS was excellent (area under the curve, 0.914 [95% CI, 0.874–0.954]; P<0.01). The best cutoff value of VMA‐derived discrepancy values to screen for CAS was 5.1, with a sensitivity of 87% and a specificity of 87%. The diagnostic accuracy was consistently high in different subject subgroups.ConclusionsA simple and accurate screening technique to quickly screen for CAS using a VMA system is feasible, with acceptable sensitivity and specificity.

Quantification of Head Tremors in Medical Conditions: A Comparison of Analyses Using a 2D Video Camera and a 3D Wireless Inertial Motion Unit

This study compares two methods to quantify the amplitude and frequency of head movements in patients with head tremor: one based on video-based motion analysis, and the other using a miniature wireless inertial magnetic motion unit (IMMU). Concomitant with the clinical assessment of head tremor severity, head linear displacements in the frontal plane and head angular displacements in three dimensions were obtained simultaneously in forty-nine patients using one video camera and an IMMU in three experimental conditions while sitting (at rest, counting backward, and with arms extended). Head tremor amplitude was quantified along/around each axis, and head tremor frequency was analyzed in the frequency and time-frequency domains. Correlation analysis investigated the association between the clinical severity of head tremor and head linear and angular displacements. Our results showed better sensitivity of the IMMU compared to a 2D video camera to detect changes of tremor amplitude according to examination conditions, and better agreement with clinical measures. The frequency of head tremor calculated from video data in the frequency domain was higher than that obtained using time-frequency analysis and those calculated from the IMMU data. This study provides strong experimental evidence in favor of using an IMMU to quantify the amplitude and time-frequency oscillatory features of head tremor, especially in medical conditions.

Video-Based Automatic Baby Motion Analysis for Early Neurological Disorder Diagnosis: State of the Art and Future Directions.

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) are impairments of the growth and development of the brain and/or central nervous system. In the light of clinical findings on early diagnosis of NDD and prompted by recent advances in hardware and software technologies, several researchers tried to introduce automatic systems to analyse the baby’s movement, even in cribs. Traditional technologies for automatic baby motion analysis leverage contact sensors. Alternatively, remotely acquired video data (e.g., RGB or depth) can be used, with or without active/passive markers positioned on the body. Markerless approaches are easier to set up and maintain (without any human intervention) and they work well on non-collaborative users, making them the most suitable technologies for clinical applications involving children. On the other hand, they require complex computational strategies for extracting knowledge from data, and then, they strongly depend on advances in computer vision and machine learning, which are among the most expanding areas of research. As a consequence, also markerless video-based analysis of movements in children for NDD has been rapidly expanding but, to the best of our knowledge, there is not yet a survey paper providing a broad overview of how recent scientific developments impacted it. This paper tries to fill this gap and it lists specifically designed data acquisition tools and publicly available datasets as well. Besides, it gives a glimpse of the most promising techniques in computer vision, machine learning and pattern recognition which could be profitably exploited for children motion analysis in videos.

Kinematic differences between national and college level weightlifters during snatch technique

The aim of this study is to assess the suitability of a micro-processing unit of motion analysis (MPUMA), for monitoring, reproducing, and tracking upper limb movements. The MPUMA is based on an inertial measurement unit, a 16-bit digital signal controller and a customized algorithm. To validate the performance of the system, simultaneous recordings of the angular trajectory were performed with a video-based motion analysis system. A test of the flexo-extension of the shoulder joint during the active elevation in a complete range of 120º of the upper limb was carried out in 10 healthy volunteers. Additional tests were carried out to assess MPUMA performance during upper limb tracking. The first, a 3D motion reconstruction of three movements of the shoulder joint (flexo-extension, abduction–adduction, horizontal internal–external rotation), and the second, an upper limb tracking online during the execution of three movements of the shoulder joint followed by a continuous random movement without any restrictions by using a virtual model and a mechatronic device of the shoulder joint. Experimental results demonstrated that the MPUMA measured joint angles that are close to those from a motion-capture system with orientation RMS errors less than 3º.

Feasibility and Reliability Assessment of Video-Based Motion Analysis and Surface Electromyography in Children with Fragile X during Gait.

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the leading form of inherited intellectual disability and autism, is characterized by specific musculoskeletal conditions. We hypothesized that gait analysis in FXS could be relevant for the evaluation of motor control of gait, and help the understanding of a possible correlation between functional and intellectual abilities. Typical deficits in executive control and hyperactivity have hampered the use of standard gait analysis. The aim of our study was to quantitatively assess musculoskeletal alterations in FXS children in standard ambulatory conditions, in a friendly environment. Ten FXS children and sixteen controls, with typical neurodevelopment, were evaluated through four synchronized video cameras and surface electromyography; lower limb joints rotations, spatiotemporal parameters, duration of muscle contraction, activation timing and envelope peaks were determined. Reliability and repeatability of the video based kinematics analysis was assessed with respect to stereophotogrammetry. The Kruskal–Wallis Test (p < 0.05) or SPM1D were used to compare different groups of subjects. Results show a consistently altered gait pattern associated with abnormal muscle activity in FXS subjects: reduced knee and excessive hip and ankle flexion, and altered duration and activity onset on all the recorded muscles (Rectus/Biceps Femoris, Tibialis Anterior, Gastrocnemius Lateralis). Results of this study could help with planning personalized rehabilitations.

Patterns of video-based motion analysis use among sports physical therapists

ObjectiveExamine video-based motion analysis (VBMA) use among sports physical therapists. DesignCross-sectional observation. SettingSurvey, online-platform. ParticipantsAmerican Academy of Sports Physical Therapy members (n = 261). Main Outcome MeasuresVBMA use frequency, reasons for use, facilitators/barriers, tools used, factors associated with use. Results194 (74.3%) used VBMA but 163 (84%) use it for ≤ 25% of their caseload. Most (57.7%) used their personal device to capture VBMA. Commonly cited reasons for use were movement analysis (93.8%) and patient education (87.6%). Barriers to use included time (30.7%), unfamiliarity with device/equipment (19.2%), and lack of device/equipment (18.4%). Younger age, advanced training, and greater time spent with return patients were each associated with use. For every 5-year increase of age, there was a 12% reduced likelihood of VBMA use (OR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.77–1.00). Board-certified sports clinical specialists were more likely to use vs. those without additional certifications/degrees (OR = 3.27; 95% CI = 1.33–8.02). Spending 30–59 (vs. <30) minutes with return patients increased the odds of use (ORs range: 2.71 to 3.85). ConclusionMost respondents used VBMA, albeit infrequently. Those younger, with advanced training, and spending ≥30 min with return patients were more likely to use VBMA. Future research should investigate whether VBMA use enhances patient outcomes.

Using Metabolomics to Differentiate Player Positions in Elite Male Basketball Games: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: The current study compared metabolic profiles and movement patterns between different player positions and explored relationships between indicators of internal and external loads during elite male basketball games. Methods: Five main players from 14 basketball teams (n = 70) were selected as subjects and defined as backcourt (positions 1–3) or frontcourt (positions 4–5) players. Video-based time motion analysis (VBTMA) was performed based on players’ individual maximal speeds. Movements were classified into high and low intensity running with and without ball, high and low intensity shuffling, static effort and jumps. Saliva samples were collected before and after 40-min basketball games with metabolomics data being analyzed by multivariate statistics. Independent t-tests were used to compare VBTMA. Results: Frequency, duration, and distance of high and low intensity running and -shuffling were higher in backcourt players, whereas static effort duration and frequency as well as jump frequency were higher in frontcourt players (all p ≤ 0.05). The levels of taurine, succinic acid, citric acid, pyruvate, glycerol, acetoacetic acid, acetone, and hypoxanthine were higher in backcourt players, while lactate, alanine, 3-methylhistidine were higher and methionine was lower in frontcourt players (all p < 0.05). High intensity running with ball was significantly associated by acetylecholine, hopoxanthine, histidine, lactic acid and leucine in backcourt players (p < 0.05). Conclusion: We demonstrate different metabolic profiles of backcourt and frontcourt players during elite male basketball games; while aerobic metabolic changes are more present in backcourt players, frontcourt players showed lager changes in anaerobic metabolic pathways due to more static movements.

Preterm Newborn Presence Detection in Incubator and Open Bed Using Deep Transfer Learning.

Video-based motion analysis recently appeared to be a promising approach in neonatal intensive care units for monitoring the state of preterm newborns since it is contact-less and noninvasive. However it is important to remove periods when the newborn is absent or an adult is present from the analysis. In this paper, we propose a method for automatic detection of preterm newborn presence in incubator and open bed. We learn a specific model for each bed type as the camera placement differs a lot and the encountered situations are different between both. We break the problem down into two binary classifications based on deep transfer learning that are fused afterwards: newborn presence detection on the one hand and adult presence detection on the other hand. Moreover, we adopt a strategy of decision intervals fusion in order to take advantage of temporal consistency. We test three deep neural network that were pre-trained on ImageNet: VGG16, MobileNetV2 and InceptionV3. Two classifiers are compared: support vector machine and a small neural network. Our experiments are conducted on a database of 120 newborns. The whole method is evaluated on a subset of 25 newborns including 66 days of video recordings. In incubator, we reach a balanced accuracy of 86%. In open bed, the performance is lower because of a much wider variety of situations whereas less data are available.

Quantitative evaluation of intercellular local deformation of human oocytes during Piezo-assisted intracytoplasmic sperm injection using video-based motion analysis

To evaluate the relationship between the quantitative properties of local deformation of the ooplasm during Piezo-assisted intracytoplasmic sperm injection (Piezo-ICSI) and oocyte developmental fate after Piezo-ICSI.Video-based motion analysis and case-control study.Private fertility center.A total of 99 couples assigned to the standard Piezo-ICSI program.Video recordings of the sperm injection process during Piezo-ICSI.Quantitative deformation properties consisting of the orientation of deformation perpendicular (Perp) or parallel (Para) to the oolemma and the mechanical response of the ooplasm (elongation, contraction, and total): Perp-elongation, Perp-contraction, Perp-total, Para-elongation, Perp-contraction, and Para-total.The deformation parameters were compared among different angular ranges of 30°-60°, 60°-90°, 90°-120°, and 120°-150° (defined as 0° at the 3 o'clock puncture site). The Perp-total value at 30°-60° was significantly greater than that at the other angles (130.2 vs. 57.7-85.5, respectively) primarily due to substantially greater Perp-elongation values. The Para-total value at 30°-60° was significantly greater than that at the other angles (20.1 vs. 6.7-10.3, respectively) primarily due to substantially smaller Para-contraction values. The deformation parameters of the ooplasm adjacent to the first polar body were also compared among different developmental fates (fertilization failure, cleavage arrest, and blastocyst development). The Perp-total value of oocytes derived from blastocyst formation was significantly smaller than those derived from other developmental fates (58.1 vs. 70.0-87.3, respectively).The Piezo-ICSI process induced deformation with various mechanical behaviors in different regions within a single oocyte. Furthermore, the exposure of the ooplasm adjacent to the first polar body to excessive deformation was found to be a possible trigger for adverse fertilization and embryo development after Piezo-ICSI.

Syngeneic Transplantation of Rat Olfactory Stem Cells in a Vein Conduit Improves Facial Movements and Reduces Synkinesis after Facial Nerve Injury.

Posttraumatic facial paralysis is a disabling condition. Current surgical management by faciofacial nerve suture provides limited recovery. To improve the outcome, the authors evaluated an add-on strategy based on a syngeneic transplantation of nasal olfactory stem cells in a rat model of facial nerve injury. The main readouts of the study were the recording of whisking function and buccal synkinesis. Sixty rats were allocated to three groups. Animals with a 2-mm facial nerve loss were repaired with a femoral vein, filled or not with olfactory stem cells. These two groups were compared to similarly injured rats but with a faciofacial nerve suture. Olfactory stem cells were purified from rat olfactory mucosa. Three months after surgery, facial motor performance was evaluated using video-based motion analysis and electromyography. Synkinesis was assessed by electromyography, using measure of buccal involuntary movements during blink reflex, and double retrograde labeling of regenerating motoneurons. The authors' study reveals that olfactory stem cell transplantation induces functional recovery in comparison to nontransplanted and faciofacial nerve suture groups. They significantly increase (1) maximal amplitude of vibrissae protraction and retraction cycles and (2) angular velocity during protraction of vibrissae. They also reduce buccal synkinesis, according to the two techniques used. However, olfactory stem cell transplantation did not improve axonal regrowth of the facial nerve, 3 months after surgery. The authors show here that the adjuvant strategy of syngeneic transplantation of olfactory stem cells improves functional recovery. These promising results open the way for a phase I clinical trial based on the autologous engraftment of olfactory stem cells in patients with a facial nerve paralysis.

Video-Based Motion Analysis Use: A National Survey of Orthopedic Physical Therapists.

Motion analysis is performed by physical therapists to assess and improve movement. Two-dimensional video-based motion analysis (VBMA) is available for smartphones/tablets and requires little to no equipment or cost. Research on VBMA use in clinical practice is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the current use of VBMA in orthopedic physical therapist practice. Members of the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy completed an online survey. Questions examined frequency of VBMA use, reasons for use, facilitators/barriers, device/apps used, practice patterns, other certificates/degrees, and demographic information. Among the final analysis sample of 477 respondents, 228 (47.8%) use VBMA. Of 228 VBMA users, 91.2% reported using it for ≤25% of their caseload, and 57.9% reported using their personal device to capture movement. Reasons for using VBMA included visual feedback for patient education (91.7%), analysis of movement (91.2%), and assessment of progress (51.8%). Barriers to use included lack of device/equipment (48.8%), lack of space (48.6%), and time restraint (32.1%). Those with ≤20years of clinical experience (odds ratio [OR]=1.83, 95% CI=1.21-2.76), residency training (OR=2.49, 95% CI=1.14-5.43), and fellowship training (OR=2.97, 95% CI=1.32-6.66), and those from the West region of the United States (OR=1.66, 95% CI=1.07-2.56) were more likely to use VBMA. More than 50% of surveyed orthopedic physical therapists do not use VBMA in clinical practice. Future research should be directed toward assessing reliability and validity of VBMA use by smartphones, tablets, and apps and examining whether VBMA use enhances treatment outcomes. Data security, patient confidentiality, and integration into the electronic medical record should be addressed. This study is the first to our knowledge to describe the use of VBMA in orthopedic physical therapist practice in the United States. It is the first step in understanding how VBMA is used and might be used to enhance clinical assessment and treatment outcomes.