-
Disability and Rehabilitation Apr 2021The L-STIFF tool of the Lokomat evaluates the hip and knee flexors and extensors spasticity in a standing position. It moves the lower limb at a controlled velocity,...
BACKGROUND
The L-STIFF tool of the Lokomat evaluates the hip and knee flexors and extensors spasticity in a standing position. It moves the lower limb at a controlled velocity, measuring joint resistance to passive movements. Since its reliability in children with cerebral palsy remains unknown, our goal was to evaluate the relative and absolute reliability of L-STIFF in children with cerebral palsy.
METHODS
Reliability was determined in 16 children with cerebral palsy by two experienced therapists. The changes in resistive torque in hip and knee in both flexion and extension were measured. Relative and absolute reliability were estimated using the intraclass correlation coefficient, standard error of measurement, and minimal detectable change. Reliability was assessed on three levels: (1) intra- and (2) inter-tester within session, and (3) intra-tester between sessions.
RESULTS
Intraclass correlation coefficients were moderate to excellent for intra-tester reliability (all ≤ 0.01). The standard error of measurement ranged from 0.005 to 0.021 Nm/° (i.e., 7-16%) and minimal detectable change from 0.014 to 0.059 Nm/°. Inter-tester intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.32 to 0.70 (all ≤ 0.01), standard error of measurement ranged from 0.012 to 0.029 Nm/° (i.e., 6-39%), and minimal detectable change ranged from 0.033 to 0.082 Nm/°. L-STIFF reliability was better during fast and medium movement speeds compared to slow speeds.
CONCLUSIONS
The assessment tool L-STIFF is a promising tool for quantifying lower limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy in a standing position. However, the results should be interpreted carefully.Implications for RehabilitationL-STIFF is a promising tool for evaluating lower limb spasticity in standing position.A special care must be given to the installation and alignment of the participant into the Lokomat to minimize erroneous spasticity measurement.Relative standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change should be used to analyze changes spasticity.
Topics: Adolescent; Cerebral Palsy; Child; Exoskeleton Device; Humans; Muscle Spasticity; Reproducibility of Results; Standing Position
PubMed: 31368379
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1646814 -
Journal of Bodywork and Movement... Apr 2024The purpose of this paper is to further understand current literature on prolonged sitting, sitting posture and active sitting solutions. This paper is divided into... (Review)
Review
The purpose of this paper is to further understand current literature on prolonged sitting, sitting posture and active sitting solutions. This paper is divided into three sections: The first section (Part I) is a comprehensive overview of the literature on how a static prolonged seated posture can affect: spinal health, trunk posture, contact pressure/discomfort development and vascular issues. The second section (Part II) reviews and qualitatively compares the four working postures recognized in ANSI/HFES 100-2007: reclined sitting, upright sitting, declined sitting and standing. The final section (Part III) is a summary of research on active chairs that revolves around the two types of movement patterns: 1- sustaining continual movement over a range of postures, occasionally reaching neutral lordosis, and 2- maintaining high frequency and duration of daily light contractile activity in the legs (or lower limbs).
Topics: Humans; Sitting Position; Workplace; Posture; Movement; Standing Position; Interior Design and Furnishings; Ergonomics
PubMed: 38763586
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2024.01.001 -
European Journal of Applied Physiology Oct 2018Standing workstations have recently been promoted as a healthy alternative to sitting. However, it is unknown how prolonged standing affects arterial stiffness, a...
PURPOSE
Standing workstations have recently been promoted as a healthy alternative to sitting. However, it is unknown how prolonged standing affects arterial stiffness, a prognostic indicator of cardiovascular health. The purpose of this study was twofold: to observe changes in arterial stiffness, as assessed by pulse wave velocity (PWV), with a 2-h bout of standing, and to determine if short, intermittent walking bouts provide a comparative advantage to standing alone.
METHODS
Nineteen adults had arterial stiffness assessed by pulse wave velocity. Central (C), upper peripheral (U), and lower peripheral (L) PWV were assessed before (supine), during standing (min 10, 60, and 120), and after (supine) the 2-h standing bout. In one trial, the participants stood at a standing desk immobile for 2 h. In the other trial, participants performed 5-min walking breaks after every 25 min of standing.
RESULTS
After 2-h of standing, supine (85.8 ± 90.1 cm/s) and standing (303.4 ± 390.2 cm/s), L increased independent of trial (i.e., main effect of time; p < 0.001). Walking breaks during 2 h of standing did not significantly attenuate these changes. In addition, standing C decreased over time (- 38.5 ± 61.5 cm/s; p = 0.04). Yet, U, standing or supine, did not change over the course of standing (p > 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that prolonged standing increases the measures of arterial stiffness and there is no evidence that walk breaks attenuate this response.
Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Leg; Male; Standing Position; Vascular Stiffness; Young Adult
PubMed: 30076480
DOI: 10.1007/s00421-018-3956-2 -
Applied Ergonomics Nov 2023Adjustable-height desks may provide musculoskeletal health benefits to offset the effects of prolonged sitting. One mechanism may be increased postural variability, here...
Adjustable-height desks may provide musculoskeletal health benefits to offset the effects of prolonged sitting. One mechanism may be increased postural variability, here characterized by head and trunk postural sway. Linear acceleration of the head and trunk were measured while participants used computer workstations in seated and standing positions during keyboard and mouse tasks; secondary measures were discomfort and proprioception (head and neck repositioning error). Median accelerations of the head and trunk were 20-26% lower in mouse tasks compared to keyboard tasks (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in sway parameters between seated and standing positions. Discomfort and proprioception were correlated; subjects who experienced increased neck discomfort after 1.5 h of computer work had almost twice the head and neck repositioning error. The results suggest that postural sway is more affected by different tasks (keyboard vs. mouse) than by different workstation configurations and that low proprioception acuity may relate to the development of discomfort.
Topics: Humans; Posture; Sitting Position; Standing Position; Neck; Computers
PubMed: 37490792
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2023.104098 -
Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine :... Feb 2024A new ultrasound-based device is proposed to non-invasively measure the orientation of the scapula in the standing position to consider this parameter for Total Shoulder...
OBJECTIVES
A new ultrasound-based device is proposed to non-invasively measure the orientation of the scapula in the standing position to consider this parameter for Total Shoulder Arthroplasty. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy and reliability of this device.
METHODS
Accuracy was assessed by comparing measurements made with the ultrasound device to those acquired with a three-dimensional (3D) optical localization system (Northern Digital, Canada) on a dedicated mechanical phantom. Three users performed 10 measurements on three healthy volunteers with different body mass (BMI) indices to analyze the reliability of the device by measuring the intra and interobserver variabilities.
RESULTS
The mean accuracy of the device was 0.9°± 0.7 (0.01-3.03), 1.3°± 0.8 (0.03-4.55), 1.9°± 1.5 (0.05-5.76), respectively, in the axial, coronal, and sagittal planes. The interobserver and intraobserver variabilities were excellent whatever the BMI and the users experience.
CONCLUSIONS
The device is accurate and reliable enough for the measurement of the scapula orientation in the standing position.
Topics: Humans; Reproducibility of Results; Standing Position; Scapula; Observer Variation; Canada; Shoulder Joint; Range of Motion, Articular; Biomechanical Phenomena
PubMed: 37987527
DOI: 10.1002/jum.16370 -
European Geriatric Medicine Jun 2023We believe that toe pressure strength in the standing position, which is closer to the actual movement, is more associated with standing up in the older adults than the...
Comparison of toe pressure strength in the standing position and toe grip strength in association with the presence of assistance in standing up: a cross-sectional study in community-dwelling older adults.
PURPOSE
We believe that toe pressure strength in the standing position, which is closer to the actual movement, is more associated with standing up in the older adults than the conventional toe grip strength. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the association between toe pressure strength in the standing position and the presence of assistance in standing up in the older adults.
METHODS
Ninety-five community-dwelling older adults (82 ± 8 years old, 72% female) were included in this study. The patients were evaluated based on their need for assistance in standing up. Physical functions, including toe pressure strength in the standing position, toe grip strength, hand grip strength, knee extension strength, one-leg standing time with eyes open, and maximal walking speed, were measured.
RESULTS
When compared with and without assistance to stand up, the group requiring assistance had weaker toe pressure strength in the standing position than the group without assistance (p = 0.015, ES = 0.53). After adjusting for confounding factors, the final model revealed that toe pressure strength in the standing position was associated with the use of assistance in standing up (odds ratio 0.94 [0.88-0.99, p = 0.025]).
CONCLUSION
Toe pressure strength in the standing position was associated with the use of assistance in standing up in older adults. Improving toe pressure strength in the standing position may facilitate the ability of older adults to stand up.
Topics: Humans; Female; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Male; Hand Strength; Cross-Sectional Studies; Independent Living; Standing Position; Toes
PubMed: 37024644
DOI: 10.1007/s41999-023-00776-z -
International Journal of Environmental... Nov 2020Sedentary Behavior (SB), defined as sitting with minimal physical activity, is an emergent public health topic. However, the measurement of SB considers either posture...
Sedentary Behavior (SB), defined as sitting with minimal physical activity, is an emergent public health topic. However, the measurement of SB considers either posture (e.g., activPal) or physical activity (e.g., ActiGraph), and thus neglects either active sitting or inactive standing. The aim of this study was to determine the true amount of active sitting and inactive standing in daily life, and to analyze by how much these behaviors falsify the single sensors' sedentary estimates. Sedentary time of 100 office workers estimated with activPal and ActiGraph was therefore compared with Bland-Altman statistics to a combined sensor analysis, the posture and physical activity index (POPAI). POPAI classified each activPal sitting and standing event into inactive or active using the ActiGraph counts. Participants spent 45.0% [32.2%-59.1%] of the waking hours inactive sitting (equal to SB), 13.7% [7.8%-21.6%] active sitting, and 12.0% [5.7%-24.1%] inactive standing (mean [5th-95th percentile]). The activPal overestimated sedentary time by 30.3% [12.3%-48.4%] and the ActiGraph by 22.5% [3.2%-41.8%] (bias [95% limit-of-agreement]). The results showed that sitting is not always inactive, and standing is not always active. Caution should therefore be paid when interpreting the activPal (ignoring active sitting) and ActiGraph (ignoring inactive standing) measured time as SB.
Topics: Accelerometry; Exercise; Humans; Posture; Sedentary Behavior; Sitting Position; Standing Position
PubMed: 33260568
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17238864 -
Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery Oct 2022The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of ultrasonographically measuring the caudal vena cava (CVC) at the subxiphoid view of healthy, lightly sedated... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of ultrasonographically measuring the caudal vena cava (CVC) at the subxiphoid view of healthy, lightly sedated cats in a standing position and lateral recumbency.
METHODS
This was a prospective, observational, experimental single-centre study. Twenty healthy research-purposed cats were enrolled. Two trained operators scanned each cat in two positions - standing and lateral recumbency - in a randomised order. CVC diameter was measured at the narrowest diameter during inspiration and at the widest diameter during expiration, at two anatomical locations along the CVC - where the CVC crosses the diaphragm (base) and 2 mm caudal to the diaphragm. The CVC collapsibility index (CVC-CI) was calculated for each site. Normalcy was assessed with a Shapiro-Wilk test. A one-way ANOVA with post-hoc Tukey's test was used to compare inspiratory with expiratory values within and between groups. A paired -test compared the CVC-CI between groups ( ⩽0.05 indicated statistical significance). Spearman's correlation and Bland-Altman analysis assessed inter-operator variability.
RESULTS
All ultrasonographic data passed normalcy and were reported as mean ± SD. When compared with each other, inspiratory and expiratory values were statistically different for position, location and operator (all <0.0001). There was no statistically significant difference between lateral recumbency or standing position for inspiratory, expiratory and CVC-CI values. Inter-operator variability was substantial, with operator 2 consistently obtaining smaller measurements than operator 1. The mean CVC-CI in lateral recumbency at the base was 24% for operator 1 and 37% for operator 2. For the same site in standing position, CVC-CI was 27% and 41% for operators 1 and 2, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
This pilot study demonstrates that it is possible to ultrasonographically measure the CVC diameter in both lateral recumbency and a standing position in healthy, lightly sedated cats. However, measurements obtained are operator dependent with variability between individuals. Further studies are needed to determine if ultrasonographic CVC assessment will prove helpful in estimating intravascular volume status in cats.
Topics: Animals; Cats; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies; Standing Position; Thorax; Vena Cava, Inferior
PubMed: 34904481
DOI: 10.1177/1098612X211064697 -
Journal of Sports Science & Medicine Jun 2022Easy-to-use and accurate heart rate variability (HRV) assessments are essential in athletes' follow-up, but artifacts may lead to erroneous analysis. Artifact detection...
Easy-to-use and accurate heart rate variability (HRV) assessments are essential in athletes' follow-up, but artifacts may lead to erroneous analysis. Artifact detection and correction are the purpose of extensive literature and implemented in dedicated analysis programs. However, the effects of number and/or magnitude of artifacts on various time- or frequency-domain parameters remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of artifacts on HRV parameters. Root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD), standard deviation of the normal to normal inter beat intervals (SDNN), power in the low- (LF) and high-frequency band (HF) were computed from two 4-min RR recordings in 178 participants in both supine and standing positions, respectively. RRs were modified by (1) randomly adding or subtracting 10, 30, 50 or 100 ms to the successive RRs; (2) a single artifact was manually inserted; (3) artifacts were automatically corrected from signal naturally containing artifacts. Finally, RR recordings were analyzed before and after automatic detection-correction of artifacts. Modifying each RR by 10, 30, 50 and 100 ms randomly did not significantly change HRV parameters (range -6%, +6%, supine). In contrast, by adding a single artifact, RMSSD increased by 413% and 269%, SDNN by 54% and 47% in supine and standing positions, respectively. LF and HF changed only between -3% and +8% (supine and standing) in the artifact condition. When more than 0.9% of the signal contained artifacts, RMSSD was significantly biased, whilst when more than 1.4% of the signal contained artifacts LF and HF were significantly biased. RMSSD and SDNN were more sensitive to a single artifact than LF and HF. This indicates that, when using RMSSD only, a single artifact may induce erroneous interpretation of HRV. Therefore, we recommend using both time- and frequency-domain parameters to minimize the errors in the diagnoses of health status or fatigue in athletes.
Topics: Artifacts; Athletes; Heart Rate; Humans; Standing Position
PubMed: 35719238
DOI: 10.52082/jssm.2022.260 -
Journal of Aging and Physical Activity Feb 2022Aside from total time spent in physical activity behaviors, how time is accumulated is important for health. This study examined associations between sitting, standing,...
Aside from total time spent in physical activity behaviors, how time is accumulated is important for health. This study examined associations between sitting, standing, and stepping bouts, with cardiometabolic health markers in older adults. Participants from the Mitchelstown Cohort Rescreen Study (N = 221) provided cross-sectional data on activity behaviors (assessed via an activPAL3 Micro) and cardiometabolic health. Bouts of ≥10-, ≥30-, and ≥60-min sitting, standing, and stepping were calculated. Linear regression models were fitted to examine the associations between bouts and cardiometabolic health markers. Sitting (≥10, ≥30, and ≥60 min) and standing (≥10 and ≥30 min) bouts were detrimentally associated with body composition measures, lipid markers, and fasting glucose. The effect for time spent in ≥60-min sitting and ≥30-min standing bouts was larger than shorter bouts. Fragmenting sitting with bouts of stepping may be targeted to benefit cardiometabolic health. Further insights for the role of standing need to be elicited.
Topics: Aged; Biomarkers; Cardiovascular Diseases; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Sedentary Behavior; Standing Position
PubMed: 33992024
DOI: 10.1123/japa.2020-0443