96 research outputs found

    Biomechanics

    Get PDF
    Biomechanics is a vast discipline within the field of Biomedical Engineering. It explores the underlying mechanics of how biological and physiological systems move. It encompasses important clinical applications to address questions related to medicine using engineering mechanics principles. Biomechanics includes interdisciplinary concepts from engineers, physicians, therapists, biologists, physicists, and mathematicians. Through their collaborative efforts, biomechanics research is ever changing and expanding, explaining new mechanisms and principles for dynamic human systems. Biomechanics is used to describe how the human body moves, walks, and breathes, in addition to how it responds to injury and rehabilitation. Advanced biomechanical modeling methods, such as inverse dynamics, finite element analysis, and musculoskeletal modeling are used to simulate and investigate human situations in regard to movement and injury. Biomechanical technologies are progressing to answer contemporary medical questions. The future of biomechanics is dependent on interdisciplinary research efforts and the education of tomorrow’s scientists

    International Conference on NeuroRehabilitation 2012

    Get PDF
    This volume 3, number 2 gathers a set of articles based on the most outstanding research on accessibility and disability issues that was presented in the International Conference on NeuroRehabilitation 2012 (ICNR).The articles’ research present in this number is centred on the analysis and/or rehabilitation of body impairment most due to brain injury and neurological disorders.JACCES thanks the collaboration of the ICNR members and the research authors and reviewers that have collaborated for making possible that issue

    Optimizing the Rehabilitation of Elbow Lateral Collateral Ligament Injuries

    Get PDF
    Elbow lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injuries frequently arise following trauma, and can result in disabling instability. Typically such injuries are managed with immobilization followed by a graduated exercise regime; however there is minimal biomechanical evidence to support current treatment protocols. This investigation examines the in vitro effectiveness of several rehabilitation techniques using a custom elbow motion simulator. It was found that active range of motion is safest in the overhead position (n = 7). Early motion in this position may reduce the incidence of elbow stiffness without compromising ligament healing following LCL injury. Forearm pronation and active motion stabilize the LCL-deficient elbow, while varus positioning worsens instability. It was also found that a hinged elbow orthosis did not significantly improve in vitro elbow stability following LCL injury (n = 7). However, such orthoses may be useful in keeping the forearm in the more stable pronated position. Future research directions are proposed, with suggestions on applying this methodology to other elbow injuries

    Wearable Movement Sensors for Rehabilitation: From Technology to Clinical Practice

    Get PDF
    This Special Issue shows a range of potential opportunities for the application of wearable movement sensors in motor rehabilitation. However, the papers surely do not cover the whole field of physical behavior monitoring in motor rehabilitation. Most studies in this Special Issue focused on the technical validation of wearable sensors and the development of algorithms. Clinical validation studies, studies applying wearable sensors for the monitoring of physical behavior in daily life conditions, and papers about the implementation of wearable sensors in motor rehabilitation are under-represented in this Special Issue. Studies investigating the usability and feasibility of wearable movement sensors in clinical populations were lacking. We encourage researchers to investigate the usability, acceptance, feasibility, reliability, and clinical validity of wearable sensors in clinical populations to facilitate the application of wearable movement sensors in motor rehabilitation

    Evaluating footwear “in the wild”: Examining wrap and lace trail shoe closures during trail running

    Get PDF
    Trail running participation has grown over the last two decades. As a result, there have been an increasing number of studies examining the sport. Despite these increases, there is a lack of understanding regarding the effects of footwear on trail running biomechanics in ecologically valid conditions. The purpose of our study was to evaluate how a Wrap vs. Lace closure (on the same shoe) impacts running biomechanics on a trail. Thirty subjects ran a trail loop in each shoe while wearing a global positioning system (GPS) watch, heart rate monitor, inertial measurement units (IMUs), and plantar pressure insoles. The Wrap closure reduced peak foot eversion velocity (measured via IMU), which has been associated with fit. The Wrap closure also increased heel contact area, which is also associated with fit. This increase may be associated with the subjective preference for the Wrap. Lastly, runners had a small but significant increase in running speed in the Wrap shoe with no differences in heart rate nor subjective exertion. In total, the Wrap closure fit better than the Lace closure on a variety of terrain. This study demonstrates the feasibility of detecting meaningful biomechanical differences between footwear features in the wild using statistical tools and study design. Evaluating footwear in ecologically valid environments often creates additional variance in the data. This variance should not be treated as noise; instead, it is critical to capture this additional variance and challenges of ecologically valid terrain if we hope to use biomechanics to impact the development of new products

    Gait, mobility, and falls in older people

    Get PDF
    My doctoral thesis contributes to the understanding of gait, mobility, and falls in older people. All presented projects investigated the most prominent and sensitive markers for fall-related gait changes, that is gait velocity and gait variability. Based on the measurement of these spatio-temporal gait parameters, particularly when using a change-sensitive dual task paradigm, it is possible to make conclusions regarding walking, balance, activities of daily living, and falls in older people. The research summarized in my doctoral thesis will help in the detection of early fall risk and modulation of therapeutic interventions to improve gait and consequently reduce fall risk in older people. To identify modifiable fall risk factors, such as gait disorders, the GAITRite electronic walkway system was used for objective spatio-temporal gait analysis. The simplicity and feasibility of the administration of single and dual task gait analysis make it a desirable clinical and research measurement tool. Gait analysis with walking as a single task condition alone is often insufficient to reveal underlying gait disorders present during everyday activities. However, measuring gait with a dual task paradigm can detect subtle gait deficits. Dual-tasking, walking while simultaneously performing an additional task, was used to assess the effects of divided attention on motor performance and gait control. The presented publications in this doctoral thesis investigated the association between gait parameters and several hypothesized fall-related modalities: (a) Our first review article highlighted the association between gait disorders and falls, and how related motor and cognitive impairments can be detected by measuring gait while dual-tasking. (b) A second review looked at how the dual task paradigm can be used for gait assessment in older people and how spatio-temporal gait parameters are associated with increased fall risk. (c) Our systematic literature review provided evidence about effective fall prevention interventions (exercise, home modifications, footwear, and walking aids) to reduce the risk of falls in vulnerable older people. (d) To evaluate which exercise modalities are effective in modifying risk factors for falls, we conducted an eight-week salsa intervention trial and measured the effect of dancing on static and dynamic balance, and leg muscle power in older people. (e) Besides exercise, inadequate nutritional intake is another modifiable risk factor for falls in older people, and therefore our most recent cross-sectional study examined how serum 25-hydroxvitamin D levels are associated with functional mobility in older people assessed in a memory clinic. (c) Walking aids are commonly prescribed for older people with a high risk of falls which is why we examined the influence of walking aids on spatio-temporal gait parameters in older people who used a cane, a crutch or a walker. (g) Finally, besides predominantly investigating fall risk factors for motor abilities, our prolonged and ongoing randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled intervention trial explores the potential influence of ginkgo biloba on the cognitive domain relevant for dual-tasking in older people with mild cognitive impairment

    Biomechanical Model of Pediatric Upper Extremity Dynamics During Wheelchair Mobility

    Get PDF
    Biomechanical analysis has been used by many to evaluate upper extremity (UE) motion during human movement, including during the use of assistive devices such as crutches and walkers. However, few studies have been conducted to examine the upper extremity kinetics during wheelchair mobility, specifically within the pediatric population. In 2000, 90% of wheelchair users (1.5 million people) in the United States were manual wheelchair users, requiring the use of their upper body to maneuver the wheelchair as well as perform other activities of daily living. Among children under the age of 18, the wheelchair was the most used assistive mobility device at 0.12% of the USA population (about 88,000 children). Of these children, 89.9% (79,000) use manual wheelchairs. Associated with the leading causes of assistive mobility device usage in children and adolescents, are severe cases of osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), cerebral palsy (CP), myelomeningocele (MM) and spinal cord injury (SCI). Once confined to a wheelchair, the upper extremities must take over the responsibilities of the lower extremities, including mobility and other activities of daily living. For many individuals who are wheelchair-bound since childhood, pain and other pathological symptoms present by their mid to late 20’s. Due to increased life expectancy and continual wheelchair use, these injuries may cause the user to have reduced, or loss of, independent function as they age, further decreasing quality-of-life. Better knowledge of upper extremity dynamics during wheelchair propulsion can improve understanding of the onset and propagation of UE pathologies. This may lead to improvements in wheelchair prescription, design, training, and long-term/transitional care. Thereby, pathology onset may be slowed or prevented, and quality of life restored. In order to better understand and model the UE joints during wheelchair mobility three main goals must be accomplished: 1. Create an upper extremity kinematic model including: additional segments, more accurate representations of segments and joint locations, consideration of ease of use in the clinical setting with children. 2. Create the corresponding kinetic model to determine the forces and moments occurring at each joint. 3. Implement the model and collect preliminary data from children with UE pathology

    THE EFFECT OF A NOVEL REHABILITATION PROGRAM ON WALKING PERFORMANCE IN PERSONS WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

    Get PDF
    The purpose of this study was to compare if the addition of the NewGaitℱ device to traditional therapy in comparison to traditional therapy alone would be more effective at improving walking technique and walking performance in persons with multiple sclerosis. Eighteen patients with multiple sclerosis participated in this study. Pre- and post-testing assessed kinematic gait variables (speed, step length, step width, double limb support time), toe clearance height, ankle range of motion, balance confidence, rating of perceived exertion, and hip-ankle coordination. Participants completed an 8-week physical therapy protocol aimed to improve gait and balance with the experimental group wearing the NewGaitℱ device. Repeated measures mixed ANOVA revealed significant improvements over time for both groups, with increased walking speed, improved balance confidence, increase in bilateral step length, and a decrease in the percent of time spent in anti-phase and an ankle-driven coordination phase during swing for the unaffected limb (p \u3c 0.05). The experimental group experienced larger improvements in balance confidence (p \u3c 0.05), and coordination (p \u3c 0.05) when compared to the control group. The results of the current study indicate that the use of the NewGaitℱ during rehabilitation is effective at improving balance confidence lower limb coordination

    On the psychological origins of tool use

    Get PDF
    The ubiquity of tool use in human life has generated multiple lines of scientific and philosophical investigation to understand the development and expression of humans' engagement with tools and its relation to other dimensions of human experience. However, existing literature on tool use faces several epistemological challenges in which the same set of questions generate many different answers. At least four critical questions can be identified, which are intimately intertwined-(1) What constitutes tool use? (2) What psychological processes underlie tool use in humans and nonhuman animals? (3) Which of these psychological processes are exclusive to tool use? (4) Which psychological processes involved in tool use are exclusive to Homo sapiens? To help advance a multidisciplinary scientific understanding of tool use, six author groups representing different academic disciplines (e.g., anthropology, psychology, neuroscience) and different theoretical perspectives respond to each of these questions, and then point to the direction of future work on tool use. We find that while there are marked differences among the responses of the respective author groups to each question, there is a surprising degree of agreement about many essential concepts and questions. We believe that this interdisciplinary and intertheoretical discussion will foster a more comprehensive understanding of tool use than any one of these perspectives (or any one of these author groups) would (or could) on their own
    • 

    corecore