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Journal of Neuroengineering and... Jun 2024Maintaining static balance is relevant and common in everyday life and it depends on a correct intersegmental coordination. A change or reduction in postural capacity...
BACKGROUND
Maintaining static balance is relevant and common in everyday life and it depends on a correct intersegmental coordination. A change or reduction in postural capacity has been linked to increased risk of falls. People with Parkinson's disease (pwPD) experience motor symptoms affecting the maintenance of a stable posture. The aim of the study is to understand the intersegmental changes in postural sway and to apply a trend change analysis to uncover different movement strategies between pwPD and healthy adults.
METHODS
In total, 61 healthy participants, 40 young (YO), 21 old participants (OP), and 29 pwPD (13 during medication off, PDoff; 23 during medication on, PDon) were included. Participants stood quietly for 10 s as part of the Short Physical Performance Battery. Inertial measurement units (IMU) at the head, sternum, and lumbar region were used to extract postural parameters and a trend change analysis (TCA) was performed to compare between groups.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to explore the potential application of TCA for the assessment of postural stability using IMUs, and secondly, to employ this analysis within the context of neurological diseases, specifically Parkinson's disease.
RESULTS
Comparison of sensors locations revealed significant differences between head, sternum and pelvis for almost all parameters and cohorts. When comparing PDon and PDoff, the TCA revealed differences that were not seen by any other parameter.
CONCLUSIONS
While all parameters could differentiate between sensor locations, no group differences could be uncovered except for the TCA that allowed to distinguish between the PD on/off. The potential of the TCA to assess disease progression, response to treatment or even the prodromal PD phase should be explored in future studies.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
The research procedure was approved by the ethical committee of the Medical Faculty of Kiel University (D438/18). The study is registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00022998).
Topics: Humans; Parkinson Disease; Postural Balance; Male; Female; Aged; Middle Aged; Adult; Antiparkinson Agents; Young Adult
PubMed: 38943208
DOI: 10.1186/s12984-024-01411-z -
Medicine Jun 2024Trunk control is the basic component of postural control, and achieving trunk control is a complex process that can be achieved by dynamically building and maintaining... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
BACKGROUND
Trunk control is the basic component of postural control, and achieving trunk control is a complex process that can be achieved by dynamically building and maintaining neuromuscular function. Lateropulsion, which is also defined as the body falling to one side, is considered an important condition that is frequently encountered after stroke and affects trunk control. It is known that there are differences in the regulation of postural control and trunk control according to hemispheric localization. We had a very specific group of patients and tried to find out the outcomes prospectively in this study.
METHODS
The patients were divided into 2 groups those with right hemisphere lesions (Group 1) and those with left hemisphere lesions (Group 2). Comorbidity and cognitive function were evaluated using the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CMI) and Standardized Mini-Mental State Test (SMMSE). Activities of daily living were evaluated using the Turkish version of the Modified Barthel Index (MBI). The Stroke Rehabilitation Assessment of Movement Instrument (STREAM) test was used to assess trunk control and the Brunnstrom (BS) test was used to assess motor functions.
RESULTS
There was a significant difference between Groups 1 and 2 in terms of STREAM in lower extremity scores were higher in Group 2 (P < .05). The number of patients in BS lower extremity Stages IV-VI was higher in Group 1 and Group 2 (P < .05). It was determined that upper extremity, lower extremity and Total STREAM scores and BS Hand stage in Group 2 were significantly higher than Group 1 in patients with total middle cerebral artery (MCA) affected(P < .05).
CONCLUSION
It was determined that trunk control was more affected in patients with right hemispheric lesions. Additionally, trunk control is significantly affected in patients with total MCA lesions.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Aged; Torso; Postural Balance; Stroke; Prospective Studies; Activities of Daily Living; Stroke Rehabilitation
PubMed: 38941400
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038589 -
Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience Jun 2024Our perception of objects depends on non-oculomotor depth cues, such as pictorial distance cues and binocular disparity, and oculomotor depth cues, such as vergence and...
Our perception of objects depends on non-oculomotor depth cues, such as pictorial distance cues and binocular disparity, and oculomotor depth cues, such as vergence and accommodation. Although vergence eye movements are always involved in perceiving real distance, previous studies have mainly focused on the effect of oculomotor state via "proprioception" on distance and size perception. It remains unclear whether the oculomotor command of vergence eye movement would also influence visual processing. To address this question, we placed a light at 28.5 cm and a screen for stimulus presentation at 57 cm from the participants. In the NoDivergence condition, participants were asked to maintain fixation on the light regardless of stimulus presentation throughout the trial. In the WithDivergence condition, participants were instructed to initially maintain fixation on the near light and then turn their two eyes outward to look at the stimulus on the far screen. The stimulus was presented for 100 msec, entirely within the preparation stage of the divergence eye movement. We found that participants perceived the stimulus as larger but were less sensitive to stimulus sizes in the WithDivergence condition than in the NoDivergence condition. The earliest visual evoked component C1 (peak latency 80 msec), which varied with stimulus size in the NoDivergence condition, showed similar amplitudes for larger and smaller stimuli in the WithDivergence condition. These results show that vergence eye movement planning affects the earliest visual processing and size perception, and demonstrate an example of the effect of motor command on sensory processing.
PubMed: 38940732
DOI: 10.1162/jocn_a_02207 -
PloS One 2024Although sloped surfaces are common in daily living, most studies of body balance are carried out on flat surfaces, and few data are available for sloping angles below...
INTRODUCTION
Although sloped surfaces are common in daily living, most studies of body balance are carried out on flat surfaces, and few data are available for sloping angles below 14°.
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of forward and backward sloping surfaces at 7° and 15° on postural equilibrium and the activity of flexor/extensor ankle muscles.
METHODS
Fifteen healthy subjects (8 males and 7 females) (27.67 ± 3.9 years) underwent a posturographic examination associated with a surface electromyogram (EMG) of tibialis anterior (TA), soleus (Sol) and gastrocnemius medialis (GasM) under five conditions of support inclination: 0° (H0), backward inclination at 7° and 15° (DF7 and DF15), forward inclination at 7° and 15° (PF7 and PF15).
RESULTS
Results showed that the center of pressure (CP) was shifted according to the surface slope, with a forward move in PF7 (p <0.001) and PF15 (p <0.001) and a backward move in DF7 (p <0.01) and in DF15 (p <0.001). The mean displacement of the CP along the anterior-posterior axis (Xm) was increased in DF15 (p <0.01) relative to the H0 condition but reduced in PF7 (p <0.01). The normalized EMG revealed higher values when the muscles were in a shortened position (PF7 for Sol, p <0.05; PF15 for GasM, p <0.01; DF15 for TA, p<0.01) and lower values of GasM and Sol when lengthened (DF15, p <0.05).
CONCLUSION
Our findings indicate that standing on a backward sloped surface impairs body balance, while low-angle forward sloped surfaces might improve postural stability. Muscular activity variations of the ankle flexors/extensors, which are stretched or shortened, also seem to be related to the length-tension relationship of skeletal muscles.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Adult; Muscle, Skeletal; Postural Balance; Electromyography; Ankle; Young Adult; Ankle Joint
PubMed: 38935639
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305840 -
Indian Journal of Public Health Oct 2023The activity of daily living (ADL) related to stair climbing is one of the most compromised ADLs among the elders. It requires good muscle strength, balance, and range...
Effect of Combined Intervention of Yoga and Physiotherapy as Compared to Only Physiotherapy on Lower Limb Muscle Strength, Balance and Range of Motion among Elders with Compromised Stair Climbing in Puducherry - A Parallel Arm Non-Randomized Control Trial.
The activity of daily living (ADL) related to stair climbing is one of the most compromised ADLs among the elders. It requires good muscle strength, balance, and range of motion (ROM) in the lower limb. We aimed to investigate the effects of Yoga complemented with physiotherapy (Intervention group) compared to only physiotherapy (control group) on lower limb muscle strength, balance, and ROMs among elders with ADL limitation in stair climbing. Sixty-five community-dwelling elders with compromised stair climbing were enrolled. Elders who consented to yoga along with physiotherapy were enrolled in the intervention arm. Data were collected and analyzed following 12 weeks of intervention. Endline assessment showed that the intervention group had more improvement in all test scores and ROMs as compared to the control group, although there were improvements in both arms as compared to baseline. Considering the beneficial effects of both interventions, yoga can be added to gain additional advantages.Trial Registration:Indian Clinical Trials Registry number CTRI/2021/08/035825.
Topics: Humans; Yoga; Muscle Strength; Male; Female; Aged; Postural Balance; Lower Extremity; Range of Motion, Articular; Physical Therapy Modalities; Stair Climbing; India; Activities of Daily Living; Middle Aged; Combined Modality Therapy
PubMed: 38934820
DOI: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_1718_22 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024The remarkable human ability to predict others' intent during physical interactions develops at a very early age and is crucial for development. Intent prediction,...
The remarkable human ability to predict others' intent during physical interactions develops at a very early age and is crucial for development. Intent prediction, defined as the simultaneous recognition and generation of human-human interactions, has many applications such as in assistive robotics, human-robot interaction, video and robotic surveillance, and autonomous driving. However, models for solving the problem are scarce. This paper proposes two attention-based agent models to predict the intent of interacting 3D skeletons by sampling them via a sequence of glimpses. The novelty of these agent models is that they are inherently multimodal, consisting of perceptual and proprioceptive pathways. The action (attention) is driven by the agent's generation error, and not by reinforcement. At each sampling instant, the agent completes the partially observed skeletal motion and infers the interaction class. It learns where and what to sample by minimizing the generation and classification errors. Extensive evaluation of our models is carried out on benchmark datasets and in comparison to a state-of-the-art model for intent prediction, which reveals that classification and generation accuracies of one of the proposed models are comparable to those of the state of the art even though our model contains fewer trainable parameters. The insights gained from our model designs can inform the development of efficient agents, the future of artificial intelligence (AI).
Topics: Humans; Algorithms; Robotics; Attention
PubMed: 38931706
DOI: 10.3390/s24123922 -
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Sensory information obtained from the visual, somatosensory, and vestibular systems is responsible for regulating postural control, and if damage occurs in one or more...
BACKGROUND
Sensory information obtained from the visual, somatosensory, and vestibular systems is responsible for regulating postural control, and if damage occurs in one or more of these sensory systems, postural control may be altered.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate and compare the postural sway velocity between children with normal hearing and with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), matched by sex and age group, and to compare the postural sway velocity between children with normal hearing and with SNHL, with and without vestibular dysfunction.
METHODS
Cross-sectional study that evaluated 130 children (65 with normal hearing and 65 with SNHL), of both sexes and aged between 7 and 11 years, from public schools of the city of Caruaru, Pernambuco state, Brazil. The postural sway velocity of the center of pressure (COP) was assessed by a force platform, in two directions, anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML)), in three positions, namely bipedal support with feet together and parallel (parallel feet (PF)), bipedal support with one foot in front of the other (tandem foot (TF)), and single-leg support (one foot (OF)), evaluated with the eyes open and closed.
RESULTS
Children with SNHL demonstrated greater postural sway velocity compared to children with normal hearing in all the positions evaluated, with significant differences in the AP direction, with the eyes open (PF: = 0.001; TF: = 0.000; OF: = 0.003) and closed (PF: = 0.050; TF: = 0.005). The same occurred in the ML direction, with the eyes open (PF: = 0.001; TF: = 0.000; OF: = 0.001) and closed (PF: = 0.002; TF: = 0.000). The same occurred in relation to vestibular function, where the children with SNHL with an associated vestibular dysfunction demonstrated greater postural sway velocity compared to children with normal hearing in all the positions evaluated, demonstrating significant differences in the AP direction, with the eyes open (TF: = 0.001; OF: = 0.029) and eyes closed (PF: = 0.036; TF: = 0.033). The same occurred in the ML direction, with the eyes open (TF: = 0.000) and with the eyes closed (PF: = 0.008; TF: = 0.009).
CONCLUSIONS
Children with SNHL demonstrated greater instability of postural control than children with normal hearing in all the directions assessed. Children with SNHL and an associated vestibular dysfunction demonstrated the greatest instability of postural control in this study.
Topics: Humans; Child; Postural Balance; Male; Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; Vestibular Diseases; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural; Deafness
PubMed: 38931672
DOI: 10.3390/s24123888 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jun 2024This study aimed to investigate the effects of upper limb control exercises on upper limb function, respiration, balance, and activities of daily living in patients... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
This study aimed to investigate the effects of upper limb control exercises on upper limb function, respiration, balance, and activities of daily living in patients with stroke. The 28 patients who met the selection criteria were randomly assigned to two groups of 14 patients each. Subsequently, upper limb control exercises using real-time feedback were applied. The same interventional exercise was applied to both the less-affected and affected limbs of the study participants, who were classified into a less-affected side upper limb control group and an affected side upper limb control exercise group. Interventional exercises, 30 min each, were performed five times weekly for 4 weeks, and follow-up examinations were performed 2 weeks after the end of exercise. Electronic muscle strength measurements and an electronic goniometer were used to evaluate upper limb function. A spirometer was used to measure respiration. Balance ability was evaluated using a force plate pressure distribution measuring system with a sensor that detects the movement of the body center on the ground. Daily life movements were evaluated using the Korean version of the modified Barthel index. When examining the results, the upper limb function on the paralyzed side showed an increase in the electromyographic strength of shoulder joint depression and flexion angle. Improvements were also observed in respiration (forced vital capacity [L] and forced expiratory volume in 1 s [L]), balance (95% confidence ellipse area [mm] and center of pressure displacement [mm]), and daily life activities, all of which showed statistically significant differences in the time × group interaction effect ( < 0.05). Thus, it was found that the upper limb control exercise on the less-affected side had a significant effect when the exercise was performed together with treatment on the affected side in patients with stroke. It is anticipated that this study will provide basic data for evaluating both the trunk and upper limbs of the less-affected and affected sides.
Topics: Humans; Activities of Daily Living; Female; Male; Upper Extremity; Middle Aged; Stroke Rehabilitation; Aged; Postural Balance; Stroke; Exercise Therapy; Respiration; Muscle Strength
PubMed: 38929554
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060937 -
Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) Jun 2024: Although the growing literature is now focusing on the long-term effects of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson's disease (PD), there is still a large gap of...
: Although the growing literature is now focusing on the long-term effects of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson's disease (PD), there is still a large gap of knowledge about its long-term implications in rehabilitation. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the effects of rehabilitation in PD patients years after DBS implantation. This retrospective case-control study analyzed records from Moriggia-Pelascini Hospital, Italy from September 2022 to January 2024. Data of PD patients ( = 47) with (DBS group, = 22) and without (control group, = 25) DBS were considered. All study participants underwent a daily rehabilitation program lasting four weeks, including warm-up, aerobic exercises, strength training, postural exercises, and proprioceptive activities. The outcomes assessed were the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Timed Up and Go (TUG), 6 Min Walk Test (6MWT), and Self-Assessment Parkinson Disease Scale (SPDDS). DBS group showed significant improvements in terms of all outcome measures after the rehabilitation intervention (UPDRS III: -7.0 (-11.5 to -1.0); = 0.001; UPDRS I II IV: -12.0 (-19.0 to -4.5); = 0.001; BBS: 7.0 (3.8 to 10.3); < 0.001; TUG (s): -2.8 (-5.7 to -1.1); < 0.001; SPDDS: -8 (-13.0 to -4.0); < 0.001; 6MWT (m): 81 (37.3 to 132.3); < 0.001). No differences were reported in the between-group analysis (p: NS). : This study emphasizes positive rehabilitation effects on PD patients irrespective of DBS status. Further research is essential to elucidate long-term effects of DBS on rehabilitation outcomes of PD patients.
Topics: Humans; Parkinson Disease; Deep Brain Stimulation; Female; Male; Retrospective Studies; Aged; Middle Aged; Case-Control Studies; Treatment Outcome; Italy; Postural Balance
PubMed: 38929544
DOI: 10.3390/medicina60060927 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2024Proprioception has long been linked with emotional dysregulation in neurotypical adults. Neuropediatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cerebral...
Proprioception, Emotion and Social Responsiveness in Children with Developmental Disorders: An Exploratory Study in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy and Different Neurodevelopmental Situations.
Proprioception has long been linked with emotional dysregulation in neurotypical adults. Neuropediatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and cerebral palsy (CP) are distinct entities and yet both present with deficits and challenges in sensory processing and the regulation of emotions. This study aimed to explore the relationship between proprioception and emotional-social performance in children and to compare proprioception and emotional-social performance in different underlying neurodevelopmental conditions. For this purpose, this cross-sectional study included 42 children with ASD, 34 children with CP and 50 typically developing peers. Proprioceptive acuity, proprioceptive reactive behavior as well as emotion regulation and social responsiveness were assessed. The results show a significant correlation between proprioceptive deficits and emotional difficulties in this pediatric sample, with distinct proprioceptive impairment patterns according to the underlying neurological disorder. Children with CP showed significant emotional knowledge deficits, while children with ASD predominantly showed challenges in social responsiveness. These data thus suggest a differentiated impact of proprioception on emotional-social performance in neurodevelopmental disorders and highlight proprioception as a potential therapeutic target for balancing emotion regulation in children with neurodevelopmental conditions.
PubMed: 38929298
DOI: 10.3390/children11060719